DeMeco Ryans wouldn't say he'll play against the Panthers, but he was in good spirits after Thursday's Eagles practice and it sure seems like he'll be ready to return from his hamstring injury in time for Sunday Night Football.
"We'll see how it goes later in the week, but I'm feeling good," Ryans said, adding he did some things in practice Thursday.
Ryans injured his hamstring toward the end of the first half of Monday's 27-7 win over the Giants. He was having his most impactful game as an Eagle — he had an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery — when the tweak cut his night short.
It was a shame, because Ryans says that night he felt the best he's felt since returning from last year's Achilles tear.
"That was the best I've felt," he said. "Just moving around, I just felt like myself again. Vision-wise, too."
When Ryans exited, backup linebacker Najee Goode entered and played well. But with the Eagles up multiple scores, Goode was on the field for only eight snaps alongside Jordan Hicks.
Ryans is asked regularly about Hicks these days because of the eye-popping run the rookie third-rounder's enjoying. On Wednesday, safety Malcolm Jenkins revealed that in addition to the team referring to Ryans as "Mufasa," the Eagles call Hicks "Simba."
"I don't know who gave [Hicks] that nickname. He probably doesn't like that," Ryans joked.
The Mufasa moniker fits Ryans, though. At 31, he's the oldest player on the Eagles' defense and one of the team leaders. He's also still a strong run-stuffer, and that ability is typically associated with determination, desire and work ethic.
"It's cool, it's cool," Ryans said of his Lion King-based nickname. "I've seen the movie, seen the play. It was a cool thing that Chip (Kelly) said. I always laugh at it.
"Some of the guys joke with me walking around, calling me Mufasa. I just smile and keep moving. I don't look at any of those guys like they have to rely on me for anything."