Grounded Eagle

Burgess out for season after tearing Achilles' tendon

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Eagles defensive end Derrick Burgess tore his Achilles tendon in practice Friday and is expected to be out for the season.

Burgess, a third-round pick in 2001, missed 15 games and the playoffs after breaking his foot against Tennessee last September. After two operations, he worked his way back onto the field and earned a starting spot at left defensive end with an outstanding training camp.

"It's a shame, because he's worked so hard to get himself back," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He's become such a big part of the team. He feels like he let the team down and that's obviously not the case."

The Eagles quickly replaced Burgess, signing Marco Coleman to a one-year deal. Coleman, 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000 with Washington. He spent the 2003 training camp with Jacksonville after starting all 16 games for the Jaguars in 2002.

He recorded five sacks and 54 tackles with Jacksonville last season. Coleman has recorded 61.5 sacks during stints with four different teams in 11 NFL seasons.

Coleman will practice with the Eagles on Saturday and could play Monday in the season opener against Tampa Bay, Reid said.

Burgess had seven sacks, including one in the playoffs, in limited action as a rookie, and was being counted on to help replace three-time Pro Bowler Hugh Douglas, who left for Jacksonville.

The Eagles selected defensive end Jerome McDougle with the 15th pick in April's NFL draft to help fill the void left by Douglas, but McDougle suffered a hip, ankle and knee injury and is expected to miss at least two games. Fourth-round pick Jamaal Green, also a defensive end, will miss the season with a knee injury.

Earlier in the preseason, Burgess also injured his right foot in practice -- the same foot he broke the year before, but X-rays were negative.