An early look at some of the veterans who have joined the Eagles this season through free agency or trade, and are supposed to have an impact on the 2012 NFL season:

Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans: He was acguired in trade with Houston to plug the middle of porous run defense and so far Ryans looks pretty good. He’s still feeling his way around some and there hasn’t been much real hitting in practices, so it’s still hard to gauge how he’s doing. But his mere presence has elevated the play of the other defenders, who know how much the Eagles need a run-stuffer and playmaker in the middle.

Offensive tackle Demetress Bell: He was an emergency pick-up after All-Pro Jason Peters was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, and Bell has done a good job melding with the other offensive linemen. In addition, the coaches say he’s getting better every day. Nobody expects him to be as good as Peters, but so far Bell has been good enough.

Quarterback Trent Edwards: The Eagles needed a veteran backup quarterback since they knew they weren’t going to re-sign Vince Young and they settled on Edwards, a former starter in Buffalo. But he was out of football for a year and he still hasn’t shaken off the rust – or maybe he’s just not very good. He’s well behind Mike Kafka for the No. 2 spot and the No. 3 spot is reserved for rookie Nick Foles, so Edwards is practicing on borrowed time.

Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe: A former starter in Washington, he was brought in to compete with starters Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, but so far hasn’t made much of an impact. It’s still early, but Atogwe needs to make a push soon if he wants to make the team, much less the starting lineup.

Punter Mat McBriar: A former Pro Bowl player with Dallas, McBriar is working through an injury to his plant leg and just started practicing. But if he flashes the form he showed in Dallas, the punting job will probably be his over second-year man Chas Henry, who was so-so as a rookie.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSSportsNFLPHI.