It’s been largely overlooked in the frenzy of news surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles that two of the team’s returning starters have been absent for reasons that haven’t been fully explained.
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is out with what has been described as an illness, while cornerback Asante Samuel is missing because of a personal issue.
Eagles coach Andy Reid refused to say what’s wrong with Maclin.
“I really can’t talk about it until he gets up here,” Reid said of Maclin. “And that’s no pressure on him or I’m pushing. I just want what’s best for him and that’s all I care about right now. This is a personal thing and I can’t go any further than that. When it’s taken care of, then we’ll talk. But right now, I’m saying you guys, I’ve had a chance to talk to him every day and we all love the kid. He’s nothing but toughness and grit and everything. He loves to play the game, but we just have to get this part taken care of. . . . I can’t get into any of the details on this.”
With Maclin sick and DeSean Jackson holding out, the Eagles have opened camp without either of their starting wide receivers.
Samuel, a starting cornerback last season, has been missing for what’s being described as an excused absence for a personal issue. Although there’s talk that Samuel may be traded now that the Eagles have signed Nnamdi Asomugha, Samuel’s agent says Samuel wants to remain an Eagle.