Professor

Philadelphia Eagles

excerpt:

Two-a-day practices, 95 degree heat and living in college dorms. For one Eagles player, it will never have felt better.

When training camp at Lehigh University opens up at the end of July, defensive tackle Montae Reagor will get to get to participate in team drills for the first time since his career almost ended last fall.

On the way to an Oct. 22 game against the Redskins, the former Colt was cut off on the highway, flipping over his SUV. Reagor sustained severe head injuries, and was placed on in Non-Football Injury list which forced him to miss the rest of Indianapolis' season and their Super Bowl run.

Now an Eagle, Reagor has slowly made his way back on the field. In the Organized Team Activities in early June, Reagor was able to start his comeback by not overextending himself, but pushing his body to get back into shape.

"I'm feeling good," said Reagor at the OTAs. "I'm doing drills, and feel everything coming back - my mobility, my quickness, so now it's just going to get down to the nitty gritty. I'll get there in (training) camp and not push it too hard, ease my way into it, but I'm looking forward to it."

Reagor has only participated in individual drills so far, and has yet to play with the rest of his teammates in full 11-on-11 drills. And while he's not completely healthy yet, the coaches are happy with his progress.

"We're taking our time with him because we know it's not going to be until training camp that he'll be able to go 100 percent," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said. "But, it seems like he's bright and he's picking things up. He just hasn't been in teamwork at all, just individual work. He's coming along pretty well."

While Reagor says his conditioning needs some more work, it is improving, as with his strength. Learning the playbook hasn't been too much of a problem for the new Eagle, who says he is now more familiar with the defense, and knows what is being asked of him.

With a month off until he finally gets to participate in full-team team drills, Reagor won't exactly be traveling the globe.

"I'm just going to relax, go home, just chill, but most of the time just work out and continue to get myself in shape," he said. "I don't have any plans or anything, I'm just trying to stay in shape, rehab and just get ready to go."

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