Getty ImagesA pleasant surprise for the Eagles in 2011 was turning in to one of the team’s biggest disappointments in 2012.
But defensive end Jason Babin returned to practice Monday, more than a month after suffering a calf injury.
According to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Babin said he expects to play on Sunday at Cleveland, despite no preseason appearances.
“I’m about 98.9 [percent],” Babin said, adding that he plans to return to the normal rotation.
“I was bummed,” Babin said of his injury. ”I trained my butt off this year to get prepared. That’s what the way it goes. Kind of, looking back now, I’m glad it happened. It really made me think about how precious every snap is.”
Also returning to practice was safety Colt Anderson, who tore an ACL last year and emerged Friday from the Physically Unable to Perform list.
But the bigger news is the return of Babin, who racked up 18 sacks in 2011.
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This dude is a pass rushing tazmanian devil!!!
He will hurt you.
That’s fine but they have 4 other ends who can wreak havoc. They had 20 sacks in the preseason alone.
so much depth at DE its crazy.. is it possible to have babin cole jenkins hunt and Cox on the field at the same time ?
Yeah lots of sacks but very mediocre against the run last season. Yes, please play all those DE’s at the same time. Be sure to use that wide 9 thing again, too.
I say he doesn’t play unless he’s at least 99.1 percent.
Rotate guys early and often. Figure out chemistry and keep guys as fresh. Save some sacks for the playoffs.
The Eagles defensive ends go six deep with Cole, Babin, Graham, Hunt, Tapp, and Curry. They are going to relentlessly come after quarterbacks all game, the sheer numbers game is bound to overwhelm most if not all teams over a 60 minute time period.
Add in Demeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks to vastly improve the linebackers and the Eagles defense could very well live up to the hype they failed to live up to last year.
How can ya not love this guy. Tuff, cool dude.
Brandon Weeden will feel like he’s 28 when this game is over.