PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles met with Julian Vandervelde, a center/guard who was released in August with an injury settlement.
The meeting, reported by ESPN's Field Yates, could mean the Eagles are looking for an alternative to David Molk, who will start his second game Sunday in place of injured starter Jason Kelce. Vandervelde was Kelce's backup last season.
It's also possible the Eagles would stay with Molk but are considering Vandervelde as a backup in place of veteran Wade Smith. Smith has not started a game despite the string of injuries that have struck the line this season. The Eagles signed Smith, who most recently played with the Houston Texans, after left guard Evan Mathis sprained his knee in the season opener.
Vandervelde was a fifth-round pick by the Eagles in the 2011 NFL draft. He was released at the end of the 2011 training camp but re-signed with the Eagles in 2012.
A back injury limited Vandervelde during training camp this summer. That opened the door for Molk, who was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2013 but was released before the season. Vandervelde had surgery on his back, and Molk won the backup center job.
Molk was pressed into duty when Kelce left the Washington game with a sports hernia. He had surgery to repair the hernia last week but could be out for another four to five weeks. That is a long time to rely on Molk, especially if coach Chip Kelly is not comfortable with Smith as a backup.
Molk is undersized at 6-foot-1, 290 pounds. At 6-2, 300 pounds, Vandervelde is not much bigger. But he does have experience in Kelly's offense, a major consideration for the coach.
When Vandervelde is healthy, he could be a backup at both center and guard.
