Peters would switch rather than fight

PHILADELPHIA >> When Jason Peters entered the NFL, Doug Pederson was backing up Brett Favre in Green Bay.

That was an eternity and dozens of Copper Fit commercials ago.

Pederson is 51, and the head coach of the Eagles. The 37-yearold Peters is entering his 16th season of a career he’d like to extend. He sees the writing on the wall in the form of Andre Dillard, the rookie left tackle out of Washington State.

“That don’t bother me none,” Peters said after practice Friday. “I want to play as long as I can. As long as I can do it, I’m going to go, whether that’s at tackle or guard. I can play all the way across the board.”

Peters wasn’t surprised when the Eagles traded up in the first round to secure the 6-5, 315-pound Dillard. In the actions speak louder than words department, Peters is showing the new guy how it’s done.

“I’ve got to give my knowledge to him so whenever I leave, I’ll leave it to him because you know how hard y’all are on the left tackle,” Peters said. “At some point you’re going to get replaced anyway, so you might as well help the guy. He’s a good athlete, good movement . ... He’s developing right now but he’s going to be OK.”

Peters expressed a willingness to move inside to guard two contracts ago. It’s not farfetched to see that happening, possibly even this season.

There are several examples of players who transitioned from tackle to guard and played at a high level. The list includes such active vets as 35-year-old Marshal Yanda of the Ravens and 31-year-old Rodger Saffold of the Titans. Saffold struck a four-year, $44 million deal with the Titans after leaving the salarycap strapped Rams.

Larry Allen, the Hall of Fame guard, started at tackle and switched between guard and tackle before playing his last five seasons at a high level at guard with the Cowboys.

The difference between those guys and Peters is that none of them made the switch so late in their careers.

While Peters has played every game in two of the last three seasons, his performance coming off torn knee ligaments last year was disappointing. He did his best fighting through the knee swelling that just wouldn’t go away.

“It takes a year to be back to 100 percent,” Peters said. “I feel better this year than I did last year last year. I was about 60, 70 percent but I just tried to grind it out, tried to help us win. Some games, I played OK, some games I played crappy. I’m looking to bounce back.”

A healthy Peters would have no problem switching to guard. It would render useless Aaron Donald, Geno Atkins or any interior pass rusher.

Dillard at left tackle, on the other hand, is much more of a work in progress, even though Peters is helping him with the transition.

“He would take me aside after a bunch of drills,” Dillard said. “If he’ll see me come out, he’ll give me a pointer here and there. He’ll tell me to work on this and that. Every chance he gets, he helps me out, and I really appreciate that.”

••• The Eagles claimed cornerback Alex Brown, an undrafted free agent cut by the Niners. The undisclosed injury to cornerback Cre’Veon LeBlanc may have hastened the addition.

Asked why LeBlanc wasn’t at practice Friday, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said it was, “injury related.”

Schwartz also said it’s going to be a while before Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox practices. He’s coming off foot surgery.

“Training camp is to get ready for the regular season,” Schwartz said. “It’s not to win this practice or put everybody out there that first day. It’s to get ready for not just the opener but the course of 16 games. If we do a good job in training camp, we’ll have done that.”

Defensive end Derek Barnett, coming back from shoulder surgery, also has been limited.

••• NOTES >> Eagles Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Brooks accelerated his comeback from a torn Achilles’ tendon by participating in the individual blocking drills. Running back Corey Clement (knee) participated fully in practice and proclaimed himself fit . ... It’s too early for Schwartz to worry about the rules change allowing coaches to challenge offensive and defensive pass interference. He says he doesn’t plan on changing the coaching technique. “We’re just going to have to see how they officiate it and try to play it out,” Schwartz said.