With support, Brooks ready to ace ‘test’
In May, Eagles Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks celebrated the workout he’ll never forget.
Just four months after a torn Achilles’ tendon, the Pro Bowl guard was spinning the treadmill at 14 mph while a sea of teammates, many from the opposite side of the ball, gathered around in the exercise room.
“The defense was lifting,” Brooks recalled. “It was like the first day I got up to 14, 15 mph. They hadn’t seen me really open up. I had gotten to, like my last two reps at that speed and they were just excited, they were cheering and stuff like that. I love being here every day.”
The camaraderie has helped Brooks attack his rehab fiercely. Go ahead and ask him if he thinks he can be back the first month of the season.
“First month? I mean, at this point, it’s not can I get back for the first month, it’s really, can I be back for the first game?” Brooks said. “The whole injury process has been interesting. I’m going to see the doctor next week. That’s going to be the test just to see if I can go to the next progression, contact. At this point I’d probably say it’s more mental for me coming off the injury. Your legs are everything. Your legs are going to take the force. I think I’ll be fine. I’m excited to be out there now just doing individuals and install.”
Brooks turns 30 later this month. No disrespect intended, but the guys trying to replace him in the lineup, including converted tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, are at best works in progress. Seventy-five percent of Brooks would seem a better protection option for quarterback Carson Wentz, the $128 million investment.
It’s not a slam dunk that Wentz plays more than a series or two, if at all in the preseason opener Thursday against the Tennessee Titans. No one needs to remind Doug Pederson that Wentz is coming off a fracture in his back, or that he was sacked four times last year in Tennessee.
Barring setbacks, Brooks figures to be in the lineup ASAP. Though he’d prefer to get work in the preseason, he’s solved just about every problem an offensive lineman can have, factoring in 96 games played.
Whether it’s sooner or later, Brooks’ gut instinct is the Eagles again will establish them as the gold standard of offensive lines, something Pro Football Focus already believes they’ve done.
“We’ve been a great offensive line for years,” Brooks said. “I mean if not the best, we’re in the top two. And we’re not No. 2. So, I’ll leave it at that.”
A part of Brooks misses being with his guys in the dog days of training camp. He wants to be part of the brotherhood again. The next best thing is hanging out with teammates whether it’s a barbecue at Wentz’s farm or a get-together in the weight room.
“Teams are close,” Brooks said. “But we’re definitely one of the closer teams. It’s not just about football here for a lot of the guys. Players talk. Let’s say a guy is a free agent or something. They’re definitely going to hear people say, ‘the Eagles, you want to go there, man. You’ll have fun. The guys are great. They’re family. They work hard. They love the game. It’s something you want to be a part of, man.’
“I think you really started seeing that the last couple of years, guys wanting to come here and play. Guys like (DeSean Jackson) wanting to come back. Things like that. Guys want to be part of it.”
Brooks wants to be part of it as well, judging by that incredible scene when he attacked the treadmill.
“I have been blessed to be able to continue my career here,” Brooks said. “I just love walking in the building to go to work every day. I think the guys I play with – not just on the line but everybody in here – they’re excited for the opportunity to play football with guys who like to play football. You’re going to have guys you don’t like. But when you get along, it goes a long way.”