Chip Kelly Looking For Arrelious Benn To Contribute
Philadelphia, PA (CBS) — With Riley Cooper's right foot still in a walking boot, with Jeff Maehl also in a walking boot with an ankle injury, it's opened the door for fifth-year wide receiver Arrelious Benn to show what he can do during training camp.
Benn, a rangy 6-2, 200-pound second-round pick out of Illinois in 2010, missed all of last year with a torn ACL, which he injured during a joint practice against the New England Patriots August 6, 2013.
Eagles' coach Chip Kelly said he's going to take a good look at Benn this training camp. If Benn can blossom into the player he was projected to be coming out of college, he's certainly going to contribute to the Eagles' depth at wide receiver—which now features Jeremy Maclin, who's coming off a torn ACL himself last year, Cooper, who had a career season last year and rookie Jordan Matthews.
Kelly said he was very impressed by the commitment Benn, Maclin and linebacker Jason Phillips made during the off-season commitment that they made in rehabbing after ACL surgery.
"We never really got a chance to see them last year," Kelly said. "The one thing about all three of those guys was that it was evident how important it was just to see how hard they worked in the off-season. [Benn] is in a lot better shape than he was this time last year. It's starting to show and he's making plays. I think the ability to play special teams is important and [Benn's] size really helps him from that standpoint. He's a big, physical guy and we're real excited to see him play in this pre-season game Friday night."
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