PHILADELPHIA -- Suddenly, the most stable unit of Jim Johnson's defense is in flux.
Dan Klecko's abrupt move from defensive tackle to fullback on Wednesday left the Eagles short by one in their four-man rotation -- just in time for Victor Abiamiri to step in.
Abiamiri, a second-year pro who underwent wrist surgery at the end of July and only recently began to practice, took snaps at defensive tackle the past two days to replace Klecko in Johnson's tackle carousel.
Johnson said Abiamiri would probably play in small doses Sunday against the 49ers and mainly at defensive tackle in nickel situations, just enough snaps for Abiamiri to shake off the cobwebs and get a sniff of some action before they head into the bye week afterward.
Abiamiri's return made possible Klecko's move back to fullback, which allowed Tony Hunt's move back to halfback.
With Brian Westbrook's fractured ribs and Lorenzo Booker's slower-than-anticipated transition into the offense, the Eagles were suddenly thin at running back and needed Hunt in case Correll Buckhalter and Booker aren't enough.
"I think it [Abiamiri's return] is a big plus for us, and that's the reason we were able to do it," Johnson said.
Abiamiri will have to dig for playing time on a line that isn't accustomed to giving up much, especially the interior tandem of Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, the bullies most responsible for a run defense that until last Sunday's blip against the Redskins had ranked No. 1 against the run.
The strongest teams always have great depth, and the Eagles had been able to sustain success by plugging in Klecko and rookie Trevor Laws when Bunkley and Patterson needed a break.
Klecko had excelled in the team's nickel defense, his two sacks already a personal best and one less than his career total.
Laws, a rookie asked to learn a complex scheme, has impressed Johnson enough to warrant more snaps in the rotation.
"He's going to play some more," Johnson said of Laws. "More and more every week it seems like he's getting better."
Laws, the team's top overall draft pick in April, has averaged about 10-15 snaps per game.
"I think I've been definitely playing better, hopefully getting better each week," the dreadlocked Laws said.
"I think that probably helped them [the coaches] know they can feel a little better putting me in there, knowing I can get the job done."
Laws and Abiamiri were once roommates at Notre Dame and played alongside each other on the Irish defensive line, with Laws at left tackle and Abiamiri at left end.
Both were considered standout run stoppers. But in their final game together, the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State rolled up 617 yards of total offense, 275 on the ground, to humble the Irish 34-20.
"That was a rough one," Laws said.
Abiamiri barely played last season, when the Eagles drafted him with their second pick in the second round, 37th overall, but he practiced at both tackle and end.
After impressing the coaches during his offseason workouts, he entered training camp as the front-runner to start at left end until he dislocated his right wrist on the first day of contact practice and underwent surgery.
While he's been sidelined, Juqua Parker re-emerged at left end. Parker leads the team 3.5 sacks, making it tough for Abiamiri to reclaim the starting job he never officially had won.
"It's definitely part of the deal," Abiamiri said. "If guys are playing well, that's good. It helps our team out and that's good.
"It'll be even better for us across the board with a little more depth and [we can] have more guys with fresh legs in there. It'll help us down the stretch."
Abiamiri practiced mostly with the scout team at defensive end last and practiced at both end and tackle positions this week.
He still wears a hard cast around his hand and wrist, but his fingers are uncovered and he said he's not limited by the padding.
As for playing the tackle position for the first time, well, he's eager to see what happens.
"It's kind of a trial-and-error kind of thing," he said. "I'll see what I can handle, and what I can't."
