It was about a year ago when Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson suffered a seizure during training camp, and it was revealed that he had a brain AVM (arteriovenus malformation) that was quite serious.

Fortunately, Patterson survived the ordeal -- and actually, he played 15 games last season after doctors determined he wasn’t in additional danger -- but he’s still far away from returning to the field after offseason brain surgery.

Eagles coach Andy Reid said Sunday (via USA Today) that Patterson likely would miss the entire 2012 season as he recovers from surgery in January to untangle the blood vessels in his brain.

His incision still hasn’t healed, and Patterson was expected to miss training camp and at least a portion of the season. But the latest news isn’t encouraging for Patterson to play any time soon.

"I think that's going to be an extended time here," Reid said. "We just have to see how that goes, if he's able to go at all this year, we'll just have to see how that works out. We'll take checkups in increments here, but right now, that's going to be a while."

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