PHILADELPHIA -- Mark Sanchez was still the Philadelphia Eagles' primary quarterback in Tuesday's minicamp practice. While Sanchez, Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow took the snaps, we learned a little bit more about Sam Bradford's status.

Head coach Chip Kelly has been deliberately vague about Bradford, who is rehabbing the left ACL that he tore for the second time last summer. But when a reporter asked if Kelly expected Bradford to be ready by the beginning of training camp Aug. 2, the coach's response was revealing.

"God, we hope so," Kelly said.

So it appears the Eagles have been conservative with Bradford through organized team activities and this mandatory minicamp. But the plan apparently is to turn the quarterback loose once training camp begins.

Bradford confirmed that impression.

"If I'm not ready for 11-on-11 by training camp, then I think something has gone terribly wrong," Bradford told reporters after Tuesday's practice, according to phillyvoice.com. "We're going to continue to work each week, continue to grind throughout the summer, and try to be ready for training camp."

That makes sense. Bradford originally tore his left ACL during a game in October of 2013. He underwent surgery by Dr. James Andrews, went through the rehab process and was back on the field in training camp of 2014. Bradford tore the ACL during a preseason game in August.

"Each injury is different," Bradford said. "It's not one of those things that you just go by the book. Each injury, each recovery process is different. That's what Dr. Andrews told me the second time I went down there for surgery. He said, `You've gone through it once, but I'm going to tell you right now, it's not going to be the same the second time.' I think that's one of the reasons things are different."

After last year's reinjury, it made sense for Bradford to take everything a little more slowly. And that's where the value of OTAs and June minicamps gets revealed. Bradford participated in 7-on-7 drills the last two weeks. But in 11-on-11 periods, when there is a pass rush, there is a chance for the quarterback to be hit accidentally. That risk wasn't worth the possible benefit of these sessions.

By training camp, Bradford will be almost a full year from the injury and the surgery. The knee will have gotten another three months of recovery time. But the work done in August is that much more important to building a team. So Kelly's reference to God and Bradford sums it up.

Something would have to go "terribly wrong" for Bradford to miss training camp work.