[moklerman]

Bradford happy with progress, says knee 'feels really good'

Sam Bradford's progress is measured in increments this time of year. The Eagles quarterback took part in only individual drills during the first week of organized team activities. He mixed in two seven-on-seven drills in the second week. The third week started Monday and Bradford added a few more snaps to his workload.

He still wears a bulky brace on his left knee. He's still not as healthy as the other quarterbacks on the Eagles' roster. But Bradford remains on schedule - even if that schedule does not have a firm date for rejoining the team as a full participant.

"If I knew, I'd tell you guys," said Bradford, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury he suffered two years in a row. "It's trending in the right direction. I've increased the workload in the past couple of weeks. It's continued to feel great afterwards. As long as it continues to feel good, we're doing the right thing."

One date looms on the calendar: Aug. 2. That's the first day of training camp. When the Eagles acquired Bradford in March, he was confident that he would be healthy for camp. He is still optimistic but will not commit to that date.

"I hope so," Bradford said. "I'm excited about that date. If everything continues the way it has, I'll be ready for that. . . . In this process, it's tough. . . . If you set concrete dates and you don't make it, you feel like it's a setback or a disappointment."

Bradford looked better this week than last week, with a 30-yard strike to Zach Ertz down the seam as one of his highlights. He admitted that he was "a little rusty" last week, comparing practice to going 100 m.p.h. He has started to adjust to game speed, and he finds it more beneficial to finally play against a defense again instead of just throwing against air.

He said his "mind slows" when not playing football, no matter how much game film he watches or simulations he goes through. Making split-second decisions requires him to be on the field, and the acclimation comes with each step of his progress.

Bradford confirmed that he did not suffer cartilage damage, which is important in his recovery. Doctors told him he's fortunate that there was no trauma besides the ACL tears he suffered in 2013 and '14. If there was more damage, his recovery would take even longer.

Bradford said he started wearing a brace three years ago when Jeff Fisher became the St. Louis Rams' coach. He was wearing it both times he tore his ACL. Fisher told NFL.com in February that Bradford could play without it this season.

"Obviously, I don't think [the brace] really worked the past couple of years," Bradford said. "But I'm sure if we get closer to the season, I'll sit down with the coaching staff here and have that discussion."

Bradford has not had an issue picking up the Eagles offense. He played for three offensive coordinators during his time with the Rams and said he has experience with just about every type of play. The terminology and other personnel are the differences.

He likes what he has to work with in Philadelphia, comparing the situation to his time as a standout quarterback at Oklahoma. But Bradford also needs to find his way in the locker room. The starting quarterback is inherently a leader of a team, but there's only so much Bradford can do as a limited participant.

"It is a little bit difficult," Bradford said. "I wish I was out there taking every rep. It would make it a little easier to take on a leadership role and develop some of those relationships. But there's other ways of doing it. Pulling guys aside after practice, in the weight room . . . you've got to look for different ways to do it when you can't be on the field."

He's also adjusting to Philadelphia. Bradford grew up in Oklahoma City, attended college in Norman, and played five seasons in St. Louis. Now, he's in the Northeast and in a "big city," as he termed it, with a larger media contingent at a spring practice than anything he said he dealt with after games with the Rams.

Before he's the starting quarterback, he must prove he's healthy. That has not yet happened. The progress can be seen with small steps each week, part of a blueprint the Eagles provided. But key dates loom. Training camp opens in less than two months, the first preseason game comes Aug. 16, and the regular-season opener is less than 100 days away.

"I think the past couple of weeks have gone really well," Bradford said. "As far as the percentage, I'm not sure how much I've progressed. But I know that the knee feels really good."

zberman@phillynews.com


Read more at http://w9ww.philly.com/philly/sports/ea ... cxt9sA0S.9

Not sure what it'll mean for him staying on the field, but I guess it's good news that he didn't have cartilage damage.

Kind of curious that once he started wearing the knee brace, he suffered two ACL tears. Doesn't make sense.

Anyone remember how his OTA's were handled last year? I don't recall if they worked him up to speed slowly and incrementally or if he was just cleared and started practicing?

[TomSlick]

I'm sure they were conservative with Sammy. It just didn't work out. I wish him the best.

[moklerman]

I'm sure they were conservative with Sammy. It just didn't work out. I wish him the best.

I know he was cleared by doctors I just don't remember what the timeframe was. Seems like he had a full training camp, but I don't remember what he did in OTA's.

For example, Carson Palmer is practicing already and he suffered an ACL tear months later than Bradford last year. So, it seems to me that Philly is slow-playing Bradford's return. Perfectly understandable to be as cautious as possible. Don't think they're going to gain much by him throwing at OTA's so it seems he should be 100% by training camp for sure.

[Elvis]

[moklerman]

https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/608333818668433408

...and? Did you not believe Bradford when he said he wasn't 100% yet?

[Elvis]

I believed him. Just posting info, i'm part newsbot around here...

[den-the-coach]

Ode to the Eagles on the Bradford Project:

[Hacksaw]

I believed him. Just posting info, i'm part newsbot around here...

RamBill west,,, aka RamElvis...
And I was wondering who was all over my knee.