Jeffery gets back to work

Birds wide receiver cleared for contact, status for Sunday’s game vs. Titans to be decided later this week

PHILADELPHIA » The cleared-forcontact nerds had their prayer answered Wednesday when wide receiver Alshon Jeffery received medical clearance to practice this week.

Jeffery hasn’t played since the Super Bowl, and it has shown up in the lack of Eagles’ offensive punch over the first three weeks of the season.

“Alshon is doing well,” Doug Pederson assured on Wednesday. “He’s cleared and we’ve decided to get him in the mix and see where he’s at. But we’ll make the final decision whether he plays later in the week.”

Consider the latter decision a formality, unless Jeffery gets hurt while working to get better. He caught 57 passes for 789 yards (13.8 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns last year and was a terror in the postseason. He did much of the damage with a torn rotator cuff that subsequently required surgery.

Jeffery practiced last week and was a game-time scratch. He echoed the boss when asked if there was a good chance he’d be able to go on Sunday when the Eagles trek to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans.

“We’re a long away from that. We’ll see,” Jeffrey said. “It was good to be back out there with my team just flying around and just being in the huddle. I’m pretty sure I’ve still got to be able to take a hit. That’s the biggest thing, the other hurdle. I haven’t gotten hit yet, so we’ll see.”

For the Titans, head coach Mike Vrabel said quarterback

TONY GUTIERREZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) makes a catch against New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24), during the first half of Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis.