Quarterback Mike Vick has made an appearance on a practice field for the first time since the conclusion of the Falcons’ offseason program in 2007.
Vick practiced Saturday with the Eagles, who worked without pads two days after their preseason opener.
He was limited participant, operating as the fourth-team quarterback.
“He did a little bit of scout team this morning and got a lift in this morning,” coach Andy Reid said in post-practice remarks circulated by the team, “and we’re just going to gradually bring him along and [offensive coordinator] Marty [Morninweg] will do some drills with him after practice is over and we’ll ease back into throwing the ball and then working the legs at the same time, conditioning-wise. So, he got a workout in this morning and then he also took the scout team for the 8/8 period this morning.”
Reid said that Vick will don pads Sunday, along with the rest of the team.
And Reid emphasized the Vick is a quarterback in Philly’s West Coast attack.
“Today he was a quarterback,” Reid said. “That’s what Michael is, Michael is a quarterback; I’m not trying to hide that from you, we moved people around every once in a while but, Michael is a quarterback.”
Reid also observed that he thinks Vick needs to lose only about two pounds.
“If you’re in a two-to-three-pound range or a five-pound range then that’s pretty good after a two-year hiatus,” Reid said. “But, there’s the other part of that, there’s throwing the football and timing and all of those factors that go into it and he’s been away.
“So, he’s going to need to do that, and not every throw is going to be a perfect throw and he’s going to have to get his legs under him. We’ve a got period of time here where we can do that, so we’ll just play it by ear as we go. And, I’ll communicate with Michael and I’ll watch his performance and see how he does.”
Vick will be eligible to play in Philly’s third and fourth preseason games, on August 27 at home and September 3 at the Jets.