Eagles sign Brandon Hughes off Giants' practice squad

With Ellis Hobbs put on injured reserve with a neck injury, the Eagles have signed cornerback Brandon Hughes off the Giants' practice squad, a team spokesman confirmed.

Hobbs suffered a disk injury on the second-half kickoff against the Giants Sunday night and was taken off the field on a stretcher.

Hughes, 24, was drafted out of Oregon State in the fifth round in 2009 by the San Diego Chargers; he was a two-time All-Pac 10 selection.

He was on injured reserve all of last season with a knee injury, made the final cut out of training camp this season, but was then released. The Giants reportedly offered him more money to join their practice squad rather than signing with the Chargers' practice squad. He has not been activated for a game in his pro career.

Even with Hobbs out, the Birds have five cornerbacks - Asante Samuel, Dimitri Patterson, Trevard Lindley, Joselio Hanson and Jorrick Calvin, who is mainly a returner. So it isn't clear that Hughes will be active for the Eagles anytime soon.

In other defensive back news, former Eagle Macho Harris has signed with the Washington Redskins. Harris was selected in the fifth round in 2009 by the Eagles and played in 15 games, including eight starts, at free safety as a rookie. He was released in September after being converted back to corner, where he had played in college at Virginia Tech.

Michael Vick is leading the NFC in voting for the Pro Bowl and is second overall behind Peyton Manning, in early totals released yesterday.

Vick has received 405,292 total votes; Manning has 496,658.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is second in the NFC with 400,921 votes.

David Akers leads NFC kickers with 89,420 votes.

Fan voting ends Dec. 20, with the teams announced on Dec. 28.