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Eagles Notes: Eagles' Andrews seeks second opinion

Shawn Andrews is scheduled to receive a second opinion on his back from a Dallas doctor, coach Andy Reid said yesterday.

Eagles offensive lineman Shawn Andrews is seeking a second opinion after one doctor told him that he may need additional surgery on his oft-injured back. (Yong Kim / Staff Photographer)
Eagles offensive lineman Shawn Andrews is seeking a second opinion after one doctor told him that he may need additional surgery on his oft-injured back. (Yong Kim / Staff Photographer)Read morePhiladelphia Daily News

Shawn Andrews is scheduled to receive a second opinion on his back from a Dallas doctor, coach Andy Reid said yesterday.

The Eagles offensive lineman, though, is still scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday, according to a league source.

Earlier this month, Andrews learned that he would need a second procedure a little over a year after the first. He has been in Southern California since September rehabbing a sore back that cut short his season even before it began.

"He just hasn't made progress from the rehab, and it's not from a lack of effort," Reid said. "He's been very diligent with it and working his tail off. Backs are sensitive things, and there are a million different things that can go wrong."

Andrews has been under the care of Robert Watkins, who performed the first operation last October. Reid said the two-time Pro Bowl guard had moments when he felt better but would suffer a setback. When the pain "leveled out," Watkins performed some tests. Andrews will have his examination in Dallas on Monday.

Watkins "wanted to get a second opinion," Reid said. "He has a lot of respect for the doctor in Dallas."

The Eagles announced that Winston Justice, who replaced Andrews at right tackle, received a four-year contract extension on Tuesday, but Reid said the events weren't related.

"I would have done [the contract extension] anyway," Reid said. "I've said before, you can't have enough good [offensive linemen]."

Reid said that he has texted with Andrews, and that the 26-year-old was "frustrated that he's not getting better." Andrews hasn't played since Week 2 of last season.

"We're trying to do everything we can to make sure he gets better," Reid said, "if not for football then for his life."

Line cohesiveness

For the second time this season, the Eagles plan to have their starting five offensive linemen play together for an entire game when they face Washington tomorrow.

Last week, the Eagles decided to no longer rotate right guards and let starter Nick Cole play the entire 60 minutes. Most teams don't swap linemen during a game because it disrupts continuity. The Eagles' injury woes had something to do with the platoon that involved Cole, Stacy Andrews, and Max Jean-Gilles.

Nevertheless, the line views this development as another sign of stability.

"It feels good knowing you got a good starting five offensive linemen that you can depend on beside you," left tackle Jason Peters said. "We practiced all week together, went through training camp together, and we're just thrilled to go out there and take to the game."

Peters played last week despite an ankle sprain. He said yesterday that he was about 80 percent recovered.

Extra points

Brian Westbrook completed a week of exercise a week and a half after suffering his second concussion in 20 days. The running back is out for at least the next two games. Asked how Westbrook fared with his conditioning, Reid said, "I'm not going to say it's great, but it was OK." . . . Quarterback Donovan McNabb announced on his blog that his wife, Raquel, gave birth to their fourth child last Friday night. The McNabbs had a boy and named him Devin James. . . . Safety Quintin Demps became a client of Drew Rosenhaus, according to the agent's Twitter account. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson recently signed with Rosenhaus.