National Football League

Eagles DT Patterson activated and ready to play

Published Nov. 3, 2012 5:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson has been activated off the reserve/non-football illness list and is ready to play for the first time this season.

Patterson is eligible for Monday night's game at New Orleans (2-5). Patterson says he's ''really anxious'' to return to the field and expects to play only a few snaps as he eases his way back into the lineup.

He suffered a seizure at practice on Aug. 3, 2011, and was diagnosed with a brain AVM, or arteriovenous malformation, a prenatal condition in which blood travels abnormally between the arteries and veins.

He played the first 15 games of last season but was not cleared to play for the start of this season because the incision where he had brain surgery in January hadn't fully healed.

The Eagles (3-4) released linebacker Jason Williams to make room on the 53-man roster.