After initial hopes that Patterson might be ready for the season, Eagles coach Andy Reid announced today that it is possible the DT will miss 2012.
"I think that's going to be an extended time here," Reid said. "We just have to see how that goes, if he's able to go at all this year, we'll just have to see how that works out. We'll take checkups in increments here, but right now, that's going to be a while."
After collapsing in training camp in 2011, Patterson was diagnosed with an AVM, or tangle of blood vessels, on his brain. Doctors did clear him to play that season, and he completed the year without incident. He chose to have surgery in January to remove the AVM, but it involved removing a part of his skull. The surgery was successful and the AVM was removed. Patterson was reportedly in good shape and expecting to be ready for training camp, but found out the week prior to camp that doctors would not clear him, as the wound related to the surgery had not fully healed.
The team placed him on the non-football injury list and he missed all of camp and the preseason. There was still hope that he would be cleared for the opener, but Reid's statement today made it clear that won't happen. The Eagles could elect to put Patterson on the physically unable to perform list, which would allow him to return after Week 6, or they could place him on IR for the season.
Reid said the injury is not career-threatening.
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