Will Jason Peters return to his former glory?
(Image via Rittenhoused)
The demise of the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles offensive line began before the season even started. It all started when Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters suffered an injury to his Achilles — two times. That seemed to set the tone for the line for the year, with injuries to Jason Kelce and Todd Herremans befalling the o-line as the season progressed.
As the Eagles go through the earliest part of their offseason program under new coach Chip Kelly and Peters returns to work, the question of the tackle’s status following a year of rehab for his injury looms large. Returning to a player’s previous ability level following an Achilles injury is a challenge, but it’s one that Peters plans to meet.
While participating in voluntary workouts with Philadelphia teammates at the NovaCare Peters proclaimed, “I’m 100 percent” and, according to Peters, he has been for quite some time.
“I was going to come back last year, but it was a bad season. I could have (played), but I didn’t want to risk it with a losing season. And the coaches kind of held me back a little bit.”
Peters is not satisfied simply to have recovered from the injury. If he is not back at the level of play of his 2011 Pro Bowl season, he’s not taking the field.
“I’m not going to get out there if I couldn’t be back to where I was before I got hurt.”
The coaching staff will start to get a read on Peters’ post-recovery performance at the Eagles’ first minicamp on April 16. With the increased tempo anticipated from Kelly’s practices, Peters is planning to get down to 320 from his playing weight of 340 in 2011 so he can be lighter on his feet and prepared for “whatever the coaches throw at us.”
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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports
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