Juqua Parker returned to practice after missing two games with a hip flexor injury. According to the team's injury report, Parker was a full participant. The starting left defensive end said he feels fully healthy heading into the final quarter of the regular season.
"Right now, I'm not feeling any pain," Parker said. "It was very frustrating just watching those guys and knowing I could help them out. (Being injured) was very frustrating for me."
Returning to the lineup this week is important for Parker as he hopes to exact a measure of revenge against the Cowboys for their back-to-back wins that ended the Eagles' 2009 season.
"I'm pretty excited for this game because they did us in last year and I didn't like that," Parker said.
Witten Full-Go For Cowboys
Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who leads all NFL tight ends with 65 catches this season, was not even listed on the Cowboys' injury report despite reports that he has a high ankle sprain. That portends well for Witten's chances of playing Sunday night against the Eagles.
Eagles linebacker Moise Fokou, who started opposite Witten as the strongside linebacker in the two final games of the 2009 season, says the tight end presents a stiff challenge for the defense.
"The way I look at (Witten), he's a strong, strong ... tight end," Fokou said. He's "not the fastest, but (he's) very good in space and runs routes very well.
"He's not going to beat you with speed, but you have to disrupt him and not let him get going."
The Eagles did a solid job against Witten last season, holding him to an average of 5.67 catches for 48.67 yards in the three meetings between the two teams.
As for who was listed on the Cowboys injury report, of note was the absence from practice for nickel cornerback Orlando Scrandrick (concussion) and middle linebacker Keith Brooking (foot). Rookie Sean Lee, who has been very productive the last few weeks, was a limited participant with a shoulder injury.
Cooper Reacts To Meyer's Retirement
The biggest news in the sports world Wednesday was the abrupt resignation of Florida's head football coach Urban Meyer. Meyer briefly retired last season before returning to the coach's seat, but has called it quits again, citing a need to focus on his family.
Eagles rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper, who played under Meyer at Florida, was surprised by the news but had nothing but nice things to say about his former coach.
"I'm definitely real surprised at the whole decision," Cooper said, minutes after he got the news following practice. "I know it's for a good reason. He loves his family and that's real important to him, as it should be.
"I wish him all the best. I love that guy."
Cooper added that he wouldn't have gone to the University of Florida if not for Meyer.
"He recruited me coming out of high school and he was probably the number one reason why I went there," Cooper said. "He was real straightforward with me, a straight shooter, and I like that because that's the type of person I am. That's one of the big reasons."
And while Cooper said he doesn't "even want to think of another head coach at the University of Florida other than Urban," he has confidence that the Gators will rebound.
"(Florida athletic director) Jeremy Foley, he's awesome," Cooper said, "so he'll find somebody."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 5:00 p.m., December 8
