Eagles' Maclin done for season

Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin

PHILADELPHIA - Fate turned on Chip Kelly just two days into his first training camp as an NFL head coach when arguably his best receiver, fifth-year veteran Jeremy Maclin, went down with a significant knee injury on Saturday.

Maclin was carted off after suffering a non-contact injury during 7-on-7 drills. The University of Missouri product laid on the ground in pain for several minutes as concerned teammates made their way over to check on him.

Kelly and another assistant helped Maclin to his feet but it was clear that the receiver was favoring his right leg quite a bit. As the cart drove Maclin off the field, the fans assembled cheered but Maclin seemed terribly dejected and draped a towel over his face.

"I saw it out of the corner of my eye," quarterback Michael Vick said following Saturday's practice. "I saw him fall. And usually when a guy falls like that, it's something to be worried about. But hopefully everything will work out."

An NFL source confirmed that Maclin believed he has torn his ACL while the NFL Network later reported the Eagles believe he has torn both his ACL and MCL.

The Eagles then confirmed Maclin did indeed tear the ACL in his right knee just before 6 pm ET and Maclin himself addressed the issue on his Twitter account.

"Appreciate all the love and support twitter fam....sad day but I have setbacks my entire life. Minor setback for a MAJOR comeback!" Maclin Tweeted.  


Originally a first-round draft pick in 2009, Maclin is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He lead the Eagles with 69 receptions for 857 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012.

Replacing Maclin's production outside the numbers won't be easy for Philadelphia but it could enable Kelly to at least insert more size into the lineup. The 6-foot Maclin teamed with the even smaller DeSean Jackson outside for the past four years and the Birds have consistently had trouble in the red zone.

Jason Avant is thought of as more of a slot receiver and you have probably already witnessed Riley Cooper's ceiling as a player. The oft-injured Arrelious Benn, a former second-round pick out of Illinois in 2010 who was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay this offseason, has the size the Birds are looking for along with and an interesting skill set but he already sustained a minor left knee injury on Friday and was riding a stationary bike at practice on Saturday.

Other options on the roster are the diminutive Damaris Johnson, former St, Louis Rams fourth-round pick Greg Salas and OTA sensation, the 6-foot-7 Ifeanyi Momah.

Johnson was a big-time playmaker on the collegiate level at Tulsa but is best-suited as a kick returner at this level, while Salas excelled in the WAC but lacks the long speed to pop the top off NFL defenses

The 23-year-old Momah, meanwhile, sat out the entire 2012 football season at Boston College while recovering from a knee injury suffered in the prior campaign, He always turns heads with his frame, which screams mismatch every time he steps on the field. That said, the suddenness and route running ability is still a work in progress for Momah.

Philadelphia could also increase the workload for its tight ends -- projected as one of the deepest  groups on the team -- in Maclin's absence Veteran Brent Celek remains a consistent pass-catcher while some see Pro Bowl potential in rookie Zach Ertz. Also, veteran free agent acquisition James Casey is one of the better h-backs in the league with the versatility to line up at multiple positions depending on the formation.