Owens Makes Some Plays

They were simple patterns, easy catches, free of defensive interference, far removed from the view of spectators.

Yet they elicited smiles as big and high-fives as loud as any touchdown catch made this season.

Monday morning, on a chilly, windy field at the University of North Florida, Terrell Owens, the leading receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, took his first tentative steps on the field as a full participant in practice since suffering a broken ankle 5 1/2 weeks ago against the Dallas Cowboys.

Owens’ chances of playing Sunday in Super Bowl XXXIX against the New England Patriots, once considered remote, brightened considerably.

“He looked good with the work he did,” Eagle Coach Andy Reid said. “We took it nice and slow, and we’ll see how he is tomorrow. The plan is to keep increasing [Owens’ workload] every day.”

Of the 30 plays the Eagles ran, Owens participated in a little less than a third of them. He also took part in drills, caught passes from backup quarterbacks Koy Detmer and Jeff Blake and worked with trainer Rick Burkholder to strengthen his ankle.

After his final catch, Owens high-fived fellow receivers Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston.

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Asked whether there was extra excitement because Owens practiced, center Hank Fraley said, “I don’t think so. He’s just part of our team. We treat everyone the same.”

Fraley must not read the papers or watch television.

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It was only the first full day of Super Bowl week, and some players already seemed tired of questions about Owens. But not safety Brian Dawkins.

“Bring them on, because he’s my teammate,” he said. “Just do me a favor and kind of mix them up. Don’t ask them the same way.”

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Linebacker Mark Simoneau, who sat out both of Philadelphia’s playoff games because of an ankle injury, also practiced.

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Along with all the stats generated on the field Super Bowl Sunday, a number will be generated off the field as well:

* There will be an estimated 7.5 million parties attended by 43.9 million fun seekers, according to the National Retail Federation.

* One and a half million television sets will be sold this week, also according to the National Retail Federation.

* Eight million pounds of guacamole will be consumed on Sunday, according to the California Avocado Commission.

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Two weeks ago, Jeff Thomason was a retired player working as a project manager for a construction company. Now, he’s part of the Eagle game plan.

Reid said the 35-year-old roster replacement for injured tight end Chad Lewis will play about 15 plays Sunday.

“We’ll see how it works out.... That’s usually what our second tight end gets,” Reid said.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.