Philadelphia Eagles: Should Fans Be Worried About Jeremy Maclin?

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin hasn't been able to practice yet this preseason due to an unknown illness.

The illness has left him weak and thinner than he was a year ago.

Not only is this situation scary for Maclin, it's scary for the Eagles too.

Without him on the field, DeSean Jackson is less effective. He faces more double teams and has more safety help keeping him from going deep.

But when Maclin is on the field, both he and Jackson give the Eagles the most dynamic offense in the NFL.

Michael Vick has two legitimate deep threats to throw to, something that has made him an effective QB.

And, with the safeties playing deep to avoid getting beat by Jackson and Maclin, it opens up plenty of running room for Vick underneath.

But the Eagles have signed former New York Giants WR Steve Smith, clearly because they are worried about Maclin's health.

Smith is injured, but his injury is one that team doctors know won't affect him in the long term.

And, if the Eagles can get Maclin, Smith and Jackson on the field at the same time, they'll have so many weapons they won't know what to do with them.

For now, though, it's unclear when Maclin will be able to play again, if at all.

And NBC Sports says Maclin's illness situation isn't getting any clearer:

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"The Eagles wide receiver, who has been struggling with an undisclosed illness for at least five months, left training camp to undergo more testing in his hometown of St. Louis according to WIP’s Howard Eskin and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Coach Andy Reid has said publicly that he expects Maclin to be ready for the opener, but let’s look at the facts.  The guy hasn’t been cleared for football activities because of an illness that has bothered him for almost half a year.  He lost weight at one point.

Either the Eagles know the problem and they aren’t telling the public, or they legitimately have no idea what’s going on or how to treat it.  The second option would be more worrisome."

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If the Eagles and Maclin can't get this thing sorted out quickly, Maclin might miss some regular season games.

And, more importantly, he might lose his health.

Let's hope he gets a favorable diagnosis with the additional testing he's undergoing.

But, it's time for Eagles fans to be worried about their offense being less dynamic, and more importantly, it's time for NFL fans to be worried for Maclin as a person.