After nagging injuries hobbled Brent Celek in the later part of 2011, a pair of offseason surgeries have him feeling like a new man.
Celek went under the knife to repair a sports hernia and a torn hip labrum. The surgeries were expected to keep him from fully participating in OTAs, but Celek was out on the practice field with the rest of the Eagles as they completed their first week of organized workouts.
"I can already tell running routes that I've got something back," Celek told the Eagles' official site. "I feel a lot better than I did at this time last year, a whole lot better."
Celek said he is pushing himself back because it "kills" him to be standing on the sidelines watching. However, he is being cautious about not exerting himself too much right away.
"I have my ups and downs that I have to work through right now just because (I'm) coming off surgery, but I want to be out here with the guys, do as much as I can do while being smart about it," Celek said. "I do feel a lot different. It's a lot easier to run now, a lot more (enjoyable). I feel like I'm fixed now."
Celek settled in after a slow start last season to give the Eagles' offense another potent receiving weapon. He finished with 62 catches for 811 yards and five touchdowns.
