After a nearly one-year hiatus, Brandon Graham is ready to play football again.
The Eagles on Saturday afternoon activated Graham off the Reserve-Physically Unable to Perform list, adding him to the 53-man roster. Graham hasn't played since tearing his right ACL during the Eagles-Cowboys game last December.
NFL teams are in the second week of a three-week window in which players on PUP can pratice without counting against the roster. Teams have until the end of next week to either activate those players or place them on Injured Reserve.
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To make room for Graham, the Eagles released backup offensive lineman Kyle DeVan.
I feel like Im good, Graham said after practice Saturday. When I get out there, I know Im going to be a little tired because of the emotion and all that stuff added to it. Other than that, Im excited. I feel like Im where I need to be."
Graham opened the season on PUP, which is only available for players who have a pre-existing injury entering the first day of training camp.
Graham, the Eagles first-round pick in last years draft, tore his ACL against Dallas last Dec. 12. He returned to practice on Oct. 24 and admitted his knee felt fine but his conditioning had to improve. It has.
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My knee is good," he said. "Its more so my lungs, just getting my wind right. Being able to go all four quarters, 100 percent.
The Eagles appear to have been doing everything possible to ensure Graham is ready. During practice hes been working with the second-team defense, the scout team and special teamsabout 50 reps per workout.
One factor that may have influenced the decision to activate Graham is the status of Juqua Parker, who is doubtful for the Eagles' game Monday night against the Bears with a high-ankle sprain, the same ankle thats hampered him all season. Parker practiced Thursday but sat out both Friday and Saturday.
Its a high-ankle sprain, Reid said. He had a little bit of tendinitis in there that they worked with and calmed it down. Well see here in the next day or two.
The Eagles claimed DeVan on waivers from the Colts on Sept. 4, a week before the season began, and immediately inserted him in the starting lineup at right guard in place of struggling rookie Danny Watkins. He started the first four games before Watkins won his starting job back.
DeVan, 26, only played in one of the last three games after his demotion, a handful of special teams snaps against the Redskins. With DeVan gone, the Eagles have just four backup offensive linemen -- tackles Winston Justice and King Dunlap and interior linemen Jamaal Jackson and rookie Julian Vandervelde.
DeVan, who had a base salary of 525,000 per year, earned 277,941 for his nine-week stay in Philly. That's his 2011 base salary pro-rated over nine of 17 weeks.
Shady update
LeSean McCoys stomach illness hasnt completely passed, but he felt well enough to practice Saturday and is expected to start Monday.
I feel good. Ready to roll, McCoy said. It aint over. Ill be OK though. Been practicing the last two days. I feel good.
McCoy, whose illness wasn't related to his trip to watch Jay-Z (see Eagles Talk), said hes able to hold food down but is being cautious about what he eats.
He feels better, Reid said. Hes better today than he was yesterday. Yesterday he struggled a little bit.
E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com.
CSNPhilly.com's Reuben Frank contributed to this story.