NFL
Bad Kearse: Eagles DE sprains ankle
By The Source
Aug 9, 2004

Bethlehem, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse suffered a left ankle sprain during Monday's training camp practice at Lehigh University.

Kearse underwent x-rays and is listed as day-to-day. According to the Florida product, he expects to play in Friday's preseason opener versus New England. He agreed to a multi-year deal with the Eagles in March after spending five years with the Tennessee Titans.

"It's not a high-ankle sprain, it's a lateral-ankle sprain," Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder said. "Those things in general are day-to-day. He's day to day. We're treating it as any other lateral-ankle sprain right now."

The 27-year-old Kearse led the Titans with 9 1/2 sacks during the 2003 season, on the heels of an injury-plagued 2002 campaign during which he missed 12 games.

Known as "The Freak," Kearse had 47 1/2 sacks in five years with the Titans, who decided not to franchise their star end. A franchise tag would have guaranteed Kearse a one-year salary of $6.5 million.

In Philadelphia, Kearse's presence is expected to strengthen an undersized Eagles defensive line that had trouble last season putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Eagles, who lost their third straight NFC Championship Game in January to Carolina, averaged little more than two sacks per game in the regular season.

Kearse was selected by Tennessee in the first round of the 1999 draft out of Florida. He started all 16 games in his rookie season, recording 85 tackles and 14 1/2 sacks in leading the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV.