Former Eagles tackle Dennis Kelly signed a three-year extension this offseason after being traded to the Tennessee Titans in 2016.

NASHVILLE: Former Eagles offensive lineman Dennis Kelly was once compared to a “bag of footballs” after he was traded in August 2016 to the Tennessee Titans for wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. The long, talented player had been drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft following a disappointing career at Missouri where he was dismissed from the team in 2014.

Green-Beckham was seen as a tremendous talent that had just not been tapped yet. It was believed that if rookie head coach Doug Pederson could unlock that talent, it was be the steal of the year. After all, who was Dennis Kelly, and who cared?

Green-Beckham caught one great pass, a touchdown throw from Sam Bradford in the corner of the end zone in a preseason game that had Eagles fans and observers crowing about the Eagles front office and how they gave the Titans a “bag of footballs” for this great talent.

As it turns out, Green-Beckham was a major bust in Philadelphia, catching 36 passes but was targeted 74 times, scoring twice. The Birds dropped him after the 2016 season. The 6-foot-6 receiver has been out of football ever since.

Kelly, however, thrived in Nashville. He played in all 32 games in 2016 and 2017, starting seven times. This offseason, he signed a three-year extension that will have him in a Titans uniform through the 2020 season.

But after that great development, Kelly has had some tough – and serious – battles with his health.

In 2018, he started game one in place of Jack Conklin, who was still recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered during the Titans divisional playoff loss against the New England. Conklin is expected to make his 2018 debut this Sunday against the Eagles (FOX, 1:00 PM).

But after game one, Kelly came down with a mysterious illness. He was actually hospitalized for three days at first. Neither Kelly or head coach Mike Vrabel would comment on what the nature of the problem was. They said they couldn’t, because they don’t know.

“I’m feeling better but we still don’t know exactly what’s going on yet,” said Kelly, who was at the Titans practice facility on Friday for the first time in two weeks. “So I can’t give like a full diagnosis yet because I don’t have one yet.

“That’s where it’s kind of sticky because we have educated guesses,” Kelly continued. “But there’s nothing legit to pinpoint anything. They’ve ruled out some things, but we’re still kind of waiting on some other results. It’s kind of frustrating not being able to exactly say… So it’s just kind of a waiting game.”

His coach was asked if he expected Kelly back this season.

“I expect him back this year, I do,” Vrabel said on Friday after practice. “Hopefully for Dennis’ sake and the team’s sake we can get him back sooner than later, get him back in the rotation, he’s doing a great job for us.”

Kelly said he was disappointed he is not able to play against the Eagles. “It would have been cool, it’s the only team I haven’t played,” Kelly said at his locker Friday. “Obviously knowing a bunch of guys over there, having battled with them, it would have been cool.”

Kelly said he sent text messages to several of his former teammates after they won the Super Bowl, but other than that, they haven’t talked. One of those teammates, Lane Johnson, had some kind words for Kelly.

“Dennis has always had the ability,” Johnson said. “He came in and played right away, his rookie year. Obviously with his size, what is he 6-9, 330 (pounds). He’s a guy that always done the right things, the right way, the whole time he was here. I always remember that last preseason game, I think it was against Tampa Bay, he had an amazing game. Next week he comes in here…it was like, ‘well folks Tennessee picked me up” and the rest is history.”

Johnson admitted there was some irony on how the deal with Kelly worked out.

“In this world, things come full circle,” Johnson said. “He’s made the most of his opportunity. Personally, ‘DK,’ he was a good ole’ guy. I had a lot of fun when he was here…miss him…miss his presence. But he’s having a career in Tennessee, it’s good for him and his family.”

Kelly was told of Johnson’s words, and cracked up when he was told Johnson said he missed him.

“He’s always been a lot of fun,” Kelly said. “He’s obviously turned out to be a great player and that whole line’s done really, really well with what they’ve been given and how they manage themselves.”

Kelly admitted getting traded was the best thing that could have happened for him. The Birds were loaded with offensive line depth. He said the whole group knew there just too many good players.

“That group was very deep while I was there, right before I left,” Kelly said. “There was always that look around the room and we’d say, ‘one of us is not going to be here.’ Everyone had played, so there was a good amount of experience there. I’m fortunate to come here. There’s a great group of players, coaches..the whole organization has been great to me so far.”

Kelly was asked if paid attention to the fact that Green-Beckham had been out of football for over a year and he just signed a three-year extension.

“I haven’t really thought about it that way,” Kelly said with a smile. “I just try and handle what I can handle. It has worked out for me pretty well. I guess that’s one way to look at it.”

And that other Kelly? You know the coach with the same name? Dennis Kelly laughed.

“I lasted a little longer than he did.” *
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SOME BIRD SEED: Vrabel in the hoard of Eagles fans on their way to Nashville to cheer their team on. The game is expected to sell out, not very common here. “We are aware there could be 35,000 people here from the other team, or whatever that may be” Vrabel said. “The ones that are there (Titans fans) we’re going to need. Obviously we have to play well. The better we play, the better and louder they’ll cheer for us.”

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii