When the Eagles signed Stacy Andrews to a contract comparable to his size, Andrews didn't know if he was going to suit up and play at right guard or right tackle. Andrews wasn't able to get on the practice field immediately because of the ACL surgery that he underwent in January.
As first reported here in early June, Andrews said that once training camp began he would play exclusively at right guard. Andrews has done just that throughout training camp, only missing a few workouts to allow the swelling in his knee to go down. But head coach Andy Reid on Sunday said that he couldn't guarantee that Stacy's brother, Shawn, would be ready for the season opener. Right tackle Shawn Andrews has missed all of camp after tweaking a muscle in his back during the conditioning drills on July 30.
Stacy Andrews has experience at right tackle. He played that position under the franchise tag last season for the Bengals. Could he slide outside if Shawn is unable to go? Winston Justice has taken most of the first-team reps at right tackle in Shawn's absence. But there are experienced guards like Max Jean-Gilles and Nick Cole on the roster who have the ability to start.
Well, Andrews said that he expects to take reps at right tackle at some point because he is preparing himself to play both positions at all times.
"I'm sure there will be (practice reps) down the road," Stacy Andrews said. "Coming here, I didn't know whether I was going to play guard or tackle. I really have to know both in case someone goes down."
Stacy said that his brother is hopeful that he can return soon. It's been difficult for him not to be out on the field with his teammates.
"It's tough. I talk to him everyday," Stacy Andrews said. "He wants to be out there working with everybody else so we can get everything going on one accord."
Three of the five projected starters on the offensive line for the Sept. 13 game against the Carolina Panthers are new in some shape or form. Left tackle Jason Peters was in Buffalo last season. Stacy Andrews was with the Bengals and Shawn Andrews was a right guard not a right tackle.
"We have to jell together, make the calls and move forward," Stacy Andrews said. "It takes a little time, but you get all of that down in training camp working with the guys next to you - listening to the calls, making the calls and just doing your job. Once we get everybody out there we'll be rolling."
They just need to get all five players out on the field at the same time.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 2:23 p.m., August 10
