Being a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver these days is an occupational hazard.
On the day that embattled Riley Cooper returned to practice, the Eagles reported via Twitter that Arrelious Benn suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Tuesday's practice and will miss the 2013 season.
The Eagles lost Jeremy Maclin to a torn ACL in his right knee on July 27. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Maclin had surgery on Tuesday to repair the knee. Noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure in Birmingham, Ala.
Benn tore the ACL in his left knee, the same knee that suffered the injury in 2010. Benn was fighting for a roster spot at slot receiver that includes DeSean Jackson, Cooper, Jason Avant and undrafted rookie Russell Sheppard also at the position.
Cooper returned to practice with a vengeance, according to NFL.com. He caught three vertical passes during a joint practice with the New England Patriots on Tuesday. Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said Cooper will play in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Patriots.
NFL.com reporter Albert Breer called Cooper's practice Tuesday his best of the year.
Cooper left the team for four days after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert.
Some media reports had speculated that Cooper might've been cut from the team if Maclin had not suffered a season-ending injury. The season-ending injury to Benn leaves little doubt that Cooper will be on Philadelphia's opening-day roster - as long as he keeps his mouth shut.
Benn played his three previous years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, appearing in 37 games with 24 starts. His best year came in 2011 when he had 30 catches for 441 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned 13 kicks in 2012 for an average of 23.5 yards per return.
The Eagles traded for Benn in March, giving the Buccaneers a sixth-round pick in 2013 and a conditional pick in 2014.
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