Opportunity present at RT for new Eagle Harris

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Ryan Harris hasnt even practiced with the Eagles yet, and he may already be the favorite to win the starting right tackle job.

Winston Justice isnt ready and doesnt look like hes close to being ready. Austin Howard and King Dunlap are long-range projects.

That leaves Harris. By default.

The Eagles right tackle spot is up for grabs right these days, and Harris, who signed with the Eagles on Tuesday, is going to get every opportunity to win the job.

Once he can compete for the job.

Harris, a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder with 34 NFL starts under his belt, all with the Broncos, will be able to practice (along with the Eagles other newcomers) as soon as the CBA is officially ratified.

Justice has had a couple knee surgeries and is officially on the Reserve-PUP list, relegated to work with the Eagles strength and conditioning guys on a side field and doing cardio in the A. Haigh Cundey Fieldhouse.

At one point, the Eagles expected Justice back healthy in time for the start of training camp. But head coach Andy Reid revealed on Wednesday that Justices work as the Eagles player representative for the NFLPA actually set back his rehab.

His schedule was a little bit crazy, since he was a player rep and he was all over the place, Reid said. I think it just set back his rehab a little bit.

He did a good job with the player rep part of it, but the lockout, in his case, I dont think helped him get the rehab done on his leg that he needed to. Were doing that (now). Hes a hard worker and very diligent. Hes here, hes doing it, and hes attacking the situation and doing well with it.

Justice had a very good 2009 season, his first as a full-time starter, but he struggled last year as his knee injury grew worse and worse.

By the fourth quarter of the Packers playoff loss, Justice had been benched for Dunlapwho was on the field for the Eagles two long game-ending drives, one ending in a TD and the other when Michael Vick threw an interception deep in Packers territory.

Reid said there is no timetable on Justice. So enter Harris.

That definitely leaves an opportunity in practice now while Justice is out, to get on film and show the coaches what Im capable of, Harris said Wednesday. To me the challenge is just making the team.

Twenty-three years ago, the Eagles acquired Ron Heller very late in the preseason, and he was their opening-day right tackle.

Can Harris do the same thing?

Harris is a good football player and we welcome him into the mix, Reid said. Winston is just going to continue to rehab until he can get back.

You know as well as I doand you guys have been around me long enoughwhere you know that Ill always take care of the offensive and defensive line. I think thats very important. If I see a good one out there that we can work into our cap situation, then were going to bring him in and make him a part of it.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.

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