New Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso, who missed the entire 2014 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, said Tuesday he doesn’t expect to be cleared to practice without restrictions until training camp, which is 4 1/2 months away.
Alonso, acquired in the trade that sent all-time Eagles rushing leader LeSean McCoy to the Bills, spoke Tuesday evening in a conference call with Eagles writers.
“I’m feeling really good,” he said. “I’m doing just about everything. Not at 100 percent yet but definitely good where I’m at. I feel really good about it.”
Alonso missed all of last year with a torn ACL he suffered while working out at the University or Oregon last August.
He said he hopes to resume some football activities in the spring.
“Very soon," he said. "Hopefully, I’ll be able to participate [in some minicamps]. I don’t anticipate being full go in April or May but I’ll definitely work kind of build up and by the time training camp starts I definitely feel like I’ll be 100 percent full-go.”
Once he’s healthy, Alonso will be the centerpiece of a new-look linebacker corps. Trent Cole signed with the Colts after 10 years with the Eagles, the last two at linebacker, and Brandon Graham re-signed with the Eagles, presumably to start at Cole’s position.
It leaves three inside linebackers -- Mychal Kendricks, DeMeco Ryans and Alonso -- for two spots, with Pro Bowler Connor Barwin and Graham outside.
Ryans’s status is up in the air after a second Achilles tear in November, so presumably Kendricks, Ryans, Alonso and Graham will be the starters.
At least, barring additional roster moves. And with Kelly you never know.
“I can’t wait to get to work with those guys,” Alonso said in a conference call with Philly writers Tuesday. “Those guys are great players in that room. I’m very excited to get to work with all those guys.”
Alonso, now one of 10 Oregon players now on Chip Kelly’s roster, said Bill Davis’s defense is similar to what the Ducks are in Eugene, which should make his transition easier.
“Very similar,” he said. “Everything’s pretty much the same.”
Alonso, 24, was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013 after recording four intereptions, two sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, five pass deflections and 159 tackles for the Bills. He missed all of last year with an ACL tear suffered before the season began.
Now he’s replacing the leading rusher in Eagles history and one of the more popular Eagles in recent franchise history.
They don’t play the same position, but Alonso knows he’ll always be measured against McCoy.
“I’m not going to put any added pressure on myself just because I was traded for McCoy,” he said.
“I’m just going to go out there and do what I do and give the organization and the and fans my best. At the end of the day, that’s all I can do.”