Vick works toward possibly playing Thursday

[August 24, 2009]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Michael Vick showed no signs of rust during the Philadelphia Eagles' practice Sunday, throwing tight spirals with plenty of velocity.

"How does Michael look in the offense? He looks pretty good," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "It was a fairly seamless transition, even though he hadn't played for two years, because of the terminology. It's very similar. Now, many of the details are different and details are where you win football games, so that's the important part there. But the terminology is coming very easily to him."

Mornhinweg said coach Andy Reid will probably make a decision Tuesday on whether Vick will make his preseason debut Thursday at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Vick worked with offensive assistants James Urban and Doug Pederson on Sunday.

"Every day he works with James and Doug he picks up a little more," Mornhinweg said. "He hasn't played in two years, so a lot of it is just getting him into football shape.

"I think he was in decent shape coming in, as far as in general. But moving, cutting, lateral movement, throwing the football, moving while he's throwing the football, that's what we needed to see."

In other news, Eagles special teams coach Ted Daisher is not pleased with first-round pick Jeremy Maclin's two muffed punts in two preseason games.

"It's a huge concern and we can't have it," Daisher said. "I met with him yesterday and he's aware of it. Jeremy is a self-accountable guy. He knows he can't do that and it's a combination of things. He's a young man who's pressing, trying to make a good impression, trying to do too much. He's got to secure the ball in traffic and he's got to make better decisions. Being a young returner, it is a process."

Second-year player DeSean Jackson, the team's No. 1 wide receiver, returned punts last year and will be back there Thursday.

Six players did not practice Sunday, including three starters: left guard Todd Herremans (foot), right tackle Shawn Andrews (back), fullback Leonard Weaver (knee), defensive lineman Darren Howard (groin), and linebackers Omar Gaither (knee) and Tracy White (ribs).

Gaither is trying to win the starting middle linebacker job from Joe Mays.

"Any time you miss time, it's hard to challenge for an opportunity there," defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "Omar is a good linebacker. It's important that he gets healthy for us."

[Associated Press]

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