Eagles QB Michael Vick back at practice

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick returned to practice Thursday, just four days after he suffered a concussion against the Falcons in Atlanta.

During the portion of Thursday’s practice open to the media, Vick was seen throwing passes to assistant coaches, jogging around with teammates and participating in all the drills in which quarterbacks Mike Kafka and Vince Young participated.

Vick’s participation indicates that he’s been cleared by the NFL-appointed independent neurologist, required under the league’s 2009 concussion policy for a player to “return to football activities.”

With a huge media contingent watching, Vick arrived at practice in full pads and a helmet. He watched practice from the sideline on Wednesday afternoon, after participating in a morning walkthrough.

The Eagles (1-1) face the Giants (1-1) Sunday in their home opener at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia has won the last six straight in this classic NFC East rivalry.

Vick threw for a pair of touchdowns in a 35-31 loss to Atlanta, but couldn’t continue after getting spun by a Falcons rusher into one of his teammates, right tackle Todd Herremans. He was replaced by Kafka.

Young, who was signed to be the backup, also missed the first two games with a hamstring injury.

Harper says NFL told Saints flag was wrong

Saints strong safety Roman Harper says the NFL has notified the team that game officials were wrong to throw a flag for Harper’s hard hit on Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler.

The flag flew moments after the quarterback threw an incomplete pass in the first half of New Orleans’ 30-13 victory over the Bears last Sunday. The call on third-and-6 extended what turned out to be Chicago’s lone touchdown drive of the game.

Conversations between the NFL’s officiating department and the clubs are confidential, and the league had no comment on Harper’s claim.

Pot tracked to home of Bengals’ Simpson

For authorities tracking a marijuana shipment from California, the trail ended unexpectedly at the home of a Cincinnati Bengals player in suburban northern Kentucky where police say they found more drugs.

No arrests have been made. Police were still investigating the case Thursday that has entangled Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson, a North Carolina native in his fourth NFL season.

A package containing 21/2 pounds of marijuana was tracked to Simpson’s home.

The case is being investigated by police at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, along with local authorities.

A Bengals spokesman said the club was aware of the reports but had no comment. Calls to Simpson’s agent went unreturned. Simpson was excused from practice on Thursday to deal with the matter.

It was unclear whether he would be available for a game Sunday against San Francisco at Paul Brown Stadium.

Simpson was at his home along with girlfriend and teammate Anthony Collins on Tuesday when the woman accepted the package, said Michelle Gregory, a spokeswoman with the California Department of Justice.