WR Jeremy Maclin and WR Steve Smith have returned to practice. Andy Reid updates the injury situation today!

The addition of these two weapons to a group that already had DeSean Jackson, Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and Ronnie Brown playing well bodes well for the upcoming season.

Steve Smith is practicing for the first time as an Eagle today. Jeremy Maclin is also back.

Maclin is coming off a season in which he was just 36 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard campaign. Steve Smith is a former 100-catch Pro Bowler coming back from microfracture knee surgery.

The Eagles, who have never had two 1,-000-yard wideouts in a season, could very well see three guys eclipse that mark this year — if Maclin and Smith are healthy. (We’ll explore that as we get closer to our season preview.)

Of course, a lot of what the Eagles do offensively will depend upon protecting Vick and his blindside. The receivers won’t help with that much, unless you count having more weapons so you can keep Brent Celek in to block more. Still, that’s not what you want from a guy with Celek’s potential.

Maclin and Smith returning presents us with good news, but it’s still not enough to warrant any Dream Team monikers until the line shows up.

For those who have been living under Andy Reid’s stomach the last few weeks, Maclin battled what was believed to be mononucleosis this spring, losing 15 pounds in the process. Then, before training camp started, we found out Maclin was still ill and was home. He eventually reported to camp, only to go back home to St. Louis for more tests.

Nobody could figure out what was wrong with him. We learned last night that the third year player simply suffered from a viral infection. For a time, though, he feared the worst as he was undergoing tests for lymphoma. In fact, he had lymph nodes removed from his belly button area and tested. He is cancer free.

Jeremy Maclin is cleared to rejoin the Eagles and get a start on his 2011 season. But, the process he went through brought to light the problem with social media and rumors.

Forget football. It’s good to see this kid’s health is in order. Really, that’s the most important thing. Of course, that’s kind of the point here. This was HIS health, HIS life.

During the last two-plus weeks, the media started out wanting answers. As it became apparent that something serious might be going on, the media backed off a bit, simply stating there were no developments. Nothing crazy from the rumor mill was “reported.” This was beyond football.

Problem is, the bloggers, Twitter masses and Facebook folks weren’t held — or holding themselves — to higher standards. (Yes, I’m a blogger. But, I have a journalism background and do try to hold myself to ethical standards.)

The rush to be “first” and be able to say “see, I told you” led to baseless, useless rumors about a man’s life. In fact, as he told Foxsports.com:

“That’s first and foremost, I want everyone to know I’m fine, I’m healthy,” Maclin told FOXSports.com on Wednesday, only an hour after receiving word from his doctor that his final test came back negative. “I was tested for everything, and every single test came back negative. I don’t have mono, I don’t have AIDS, leukemia — all the things people were guessing on, there was nothing. I was being tested for lymphoma and thank God everything has come back negative.

“I wanted my privacy on this until I had answers. I don’t like to talk unless I have all the answers about what I’m talking about. It was frustrating to hear all the rumors about me. It wasn’t until this morning that I finally got my final answer and thankfully I’m healthy and ready to return to football.”

The man was forced to address rumors about him having cancer and AIDS? Why? Because people wouldn’t respect his privacy. As I pointed out yesterday, some media outlets were impatient as they said they were “promised” a statement on Tuesday when they clearly were not.

This was a man’s private life. This wasn’t a football injury or speculation about which team he might sign with or be traded to. This was an unkown illness that could have had a profound affect on his and his family’s lives. Privacy is expected and deserved.

Yet, I had to log on to Facebook one night to find someone who “knows” people say “sources” say Maclin has “bone cancer.” Say what? That’s really nobody’s freakin’ business until Maclin decides it is. If you disagree, you’re a nitwit.

To be fair, no mainstream media outlet — or even blog from what I can tell — “reported that.” But, I guess Facebook, Twitter and social media is OK to put someone’s personal business out there.

The rumor mill has a time and place. People's private, personal issues aren't it, however.

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That’s not to say some bloggers aren’t at fault in instances such as this. There were the reports last summer of Jayson Werth being friendly with Mrs. Chase Utley. Baseless rumors that delve into people’s personal lives.

Then, you also had the whole Jeff Carter/teammate wife affair thing, too.

Stories such as this cross boundaries. It’s OK to read and write blogs and social media posts analyzing a game or a team’s situation. Speculating whether the Phillies will or should acquire Hunter Pence is fun and passes the time. Even if a player is injured on the field, it’s relevant to speculate how much time will be missed.

But, when it comes to things that are private, serious, personal matters, even a public figure has a right to expect privacy. That’s something we all need to be more careful of in the future. Unless, of course, you like being asked 256 times a day what the problem is when you have no answers or know the “rumor” is a blatant lie.

Welcome to Jeremy Maclin’s world. The Eagles receiver has battled mononucleosis this spring, losing 15 pounds in the process. He is currently still ill and has undergone a crazy amount of testing to determine what he is battling.

Yet, the media and public expect answers.

Hey, it’s not wrong to be curious and want to know. Maclin wants to know. And, that’s kind of the point here: How can you hound a guy and accuse the Eagles of CIA-level secrecy when the player himself doesn’t have answers. When doctors don’t have answers.

Due to an undetermined illness, this is as close as Jeremy Maclin has gotten to the huddle this spring. Football aside, you have to hope this young man's health returns to normal soon.

Now, everybody and their cousin is — dare we say — bitching about the fact that Tuesday came and went without any word on Maclin’s illness. They say that the public was promised answers.

From Dan Graziano’s Breakfast Links on ESPN.com:

We were promised Jeremy Maclin news Tuesday and didn’t get it. As of this morning, neither Maclin nor the Philadelphia Eagles have issued any kind of statement on the mysterious medical condition that has kept the star wide receiver from practicing in training camp.

Never did Jeremy Maclin’s brother promise a statement. He simply said that the family would find something out and then develop a plan of action to determine what to do and when to comment. That’s it.

In fact, his brother, Andre, said:

“That’s when we find out exactly what’s going on and when (the Maclin camp) will address it and talk.”

Notice he says when they will address it, not that they would address it on Tuesday.

So, be patient and wait your turn. This goes deeper than football, as Graziano also pointed out:

And while his status as a football player obviously isn’t as important as his personal health, we don’t know anything about the latter except that it’s not good enough to allow him to play.

The bottom line is to put yourself in Jeremy’s shoes. If you were ill for months and couldn’t find out the cause, would you be rushing to the podium or issuing a release the second you found out what it was?

Maclin’s brother says Jeremy will have news on Tuesday and at that time they’ll be able to map out a course of action to get the Eagle back on the field with his teammates. It’s at that point that the Maclin camp will decide when and what to divulge to the public. So, we may not find out tomorrow, but we should hear something soon.

Eagles wideout Jeremy Maclin is set to receive information on his illness on Tuesday.

As for the rumor mill reports stating that Maclin’s illness could be life threatening, it doesn’t appear that way.

No so, said Andre Maclin: “They kind of have us on a gag order until tomorrow. … But he’s fine, he’s fine. That much I can say.”

Asked if he expects Maclin to play for the Eagles this season, the brother said, “I’m confident about that as well.”

Maclin has batteled mononucleosis and lost 15 pounds this spring. This report is certainly encouraging news and inline with the statements that Joe banner and Andy Reid made last week. Maclin is a key guy in the Eagles passing scheme. Coming off a 70 catch, 964 yard, 10 TD season, the Eagles are counting on the third year guy from Missouri.

Maclin and DeSean Jackson should be in line to become the first 1,000-yard receiving duo in team history this year if both are ready to go Week 1.

Michael Vick made the most of his one series against the Baltimore Ravens in preseason action on Thursday, leading the offense to the end zone on a three-yard TD pass to tight end Brent Celek. Getting Celek involved in the red zone is exciting to see after last year’s down year by Captain Morgan.

Michael Vick looked in midseason form during the Eagles opening drive of the 2011 preseason.

The Pro Bowl signal caller went 4-of-6 for 74 yards on the Eagles first offensive series. The big play was a 43-yard toss to big man Riley Cooper down the left sideline that set up the score. Cooper made a hell of a grab, turning his body back in the air, hauling in the pass and landing awkwardly.

Interviewed on the sideline by WPVI after the first quarter, Vick praised Cooper.

“Riley’s improved a lot since last year and he’s going to continue to do so,” Vick said.

The first team offense, which was supposed to play the entire first quarter, was then sent to the showers by Andy reid. He apparently had seen enough and wanted to get a read on Vince Young, Ronnie Brown and the second team.

Joe Banner says the eagles expect Jeremy Maclin back for the startt of the season.

“Andy said he still expects him back for the start of the season,” Banner told WPVI. “We want to respect his privacy and if Jeremy feels comfortable discussing it at some point in the future, then he will. But, we still expect him back for the start of the season.”

This really isn’t surprising or earth shattering news at all. Of course banner isn’t going to say that Maclin won’t be ready — that would be an indirect invasion of Maclin’s privacy that the Eagles are protecting, and have to protect under federal HIPAA regulations.

Still, it is nice to hear some statement from the eagles officials after a day of stonewalling the local media. Interesting it’s made to the network that pays the Eagles money. Just sayin’…

The third-year wideout from Missouri has not practiced with the team and batteled mono over the spring, losing 15 pounds in the process.

Eagles wieout Jeremy Maclin is in St. Louis for more medical testing as the Eagles open the preseason against the Ravens.

Still, he found time to let his boys know he is with them via Twitter:

“Good luck to my guys tonight! #BirdGang all day everyday! This season is gonna be special….tonight is just the start… #iknoit”

Maclin is right in that the season appears to be a special one on paper. They’re going to need him back to truly bull over the competition, however. Then again, at this point, you just have to be worried about Maclin as a person first, and a football player second.

Two games, 110 yards. That’s what stood between Jeremy Maclin the exclusive/soon-to-be-not-so-exclusive-18-game-schedule 1,000 yard club. The Eagles had never had two thousand yard wideouts in the same season.

Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin finished the season just 36 yards short of 1,000 yards for the season. The second year wideout showed he and Jackson could be a special duo going forward.

After a solid 74 yard performance against the Vikings, Maclin needed just 36 yards Sunday against the Cowboys. Everyone knew he wouldn’t play much as Andy reid wanted to rest his starters. Still, 36 yards seemed doable.

Maclin is still 36 yards short after a brief catchless performance.

Still, Maclin had a season to be proud of and build upon. He hauled in 70 passes for 964 yards and a team-high ten scores. Honestly, how he hasn’t been mentioned as a Pro Bowl snub is a little surprising. Sure, DeSean opens up the field for the speedy Maclin to make big-time plays. Still, 70 balls and ten scores?

With the two youngsters balling together, it’s only a matter of time until Maclin and DJacc are a thousand-yard duo.

Eagles wideout DeSean Jackson is all about “Makin’ History.” He was the first player voted in at two spots in last year’s Pro Bowl. He’s the first Eagle receiver in 13 years to post consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. And, last weekend’s punt return just added to the excitement surrounding the talented young guy who has made a habit of slicing and dicing opposing defenses.

Either this weekend or next, look for Jeremy Maclin to join DJacc as the two make history together. With just 110 yards, Maclin will join the 1,000-yard club. And, it would mark the first time in the Eagles 77-year history that dates back to 1933 that the team would field a pair of 1,000-yard receivers.

Jeremy Maclin needs just 110 yards in the last two weeks to log his first 1,000 yard season in the NFL. He and DeSean Jackson would then be the first pair of 1,000-yard wideouts in team history.

Think about that.

A total of 77 years. Never has the team had two, thousand yard wideouts.

Maclin currently has 64 catches for 890 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jackson has hauled in 45 balls for 1,024 yards and six scores.

Consider that Jackson is in his third year and Maclin is in his second. This duo could be around for a long time and has the potential to be explosive on any given play.

Add in 1,000-yard rusher LeSean McCoy, also in his second year, and you truly have the makings of the best All-Madden video game team of all-time.

First, Maclin needs to get the job done.

Two weeks. Just 110 yards from history.

With the Eagles facing one of the better run defenses, Kevin Kolb had to step up his game if the Eagles ahd any chance to knock off the Atlanta Falcons. Getting DeSean Jackson involved was key to getting the Eagles offense going.

Kolb and Jackson did just that through the first quarter in giving the Eagles a lead they never surrendered. Jackson took an end around 31 yards to paydirt on the Eagles first offensive series. He later caught a 34-yard score from Kolb to put the Eagles up 14-0.

Desean Jackson started the game in impressive fashion before being knocked out by Dunta Robinson.

Jackson, however, was lost for the game in the second quarter on a vicious hit by Falcons corner Dunta Robinson. Just as quickly as optimism around the Eagles offense developed, nervousness set in.

Then, Jeremy Maclin decided to show up in a big way en route to giving the Eagles a decisive 31-17 win, leaving both teams at 4-2 after six games.

Maclin hauled in seven balls for 159 yards and two scores. His first score came in the second quarter when Kolb found him for an eight-yard TD. The two later connected on an 83-yard bomb in the third quarter to give the Eagles a 28-10 lead.

In between the Falcons put up 10 points on a Matt Ryan-Tony Gonzalez score, and a field goal.

Gonzalez also scored in the fourth quarter, while Eagles kicker David Akers connected on a 30-yard field goal to close out the scoring. Akers had missed three attempts before that try.

Kolb, under a ton of scrutiny after playing poorly all preseason and in the first half of the season opener, displayed why the Eagles wanted him to be under center this year. He went 23-of-29 for 326 yards and three TDs. He threw one pick late in the first half, although that really wasn’t his fault.

Kevin Kolb threw for more than 300 yards for the third time in five NFL starts in Sunday's 31-17 win over Atlanta.

LeSean McCoy put up 64 yards against a solid Falcons run defense.

On defense, the Eagles held the league’s second rushing team to just 65 yards, less than half of it’s season average. They also put pressure on Ryan all day, thanks to an improved scheme from second year coordinator Sean McDermott.

The 4-2 Eagles play at Tennessee next week.