Archive: October, 2008
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
We don't have the inactives yet, and right now David Akers and Sav Rocca are the only Eagles on the field, but we do know that the NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Birds expect to have Brian Westbrook today against the Redskins.
It's not clear whether this is something gleaned the morning, or going into the day. We certainly felt it was likely Westbrook would play when he went through the entire practice Friday, even though the Eagles still listed him as "questionable."
Stay tuned for updates.
Daily News staff
Game Day has arrived as the Eagles host the Washington Redskins at the Linc. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Fox.
Check back later in the day for Les Bowen's updates from the Linc with any breaking news, including whether Brian Westbrook will play.
PREDICTIONS
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Your Eagletarian isn't much for coy answers to simple questions.
If I wanted Koy, I'd call up the former holder and backup quarterback.
Brian Westbrook made it through the entire Eagles practice Friday with the ankle strain he suffered Sunday before last against the Steelers. Westbrook has been dinged many times during his seven-year Eagles career. I can't remember Westbrook ever practicing full-go on Friday and then not playing on Sunday. Yet, the Eagles are listing him as "questionable" for this week's encounter with the Redskins. Asked his feeling about Westbrook's chances of playing, Eagles coach Andy Reid said: "Well, he's questionable."
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Here is our weekly look at the 5 things we will be keeping our eyes on during Sunday's Eagles-Redskins game at the Linc:
1. The Redskins’ blitz: The Redskins have just six sacks in four games. With Jason Taylor out, they really don’t have the pass-rushing horses up front to get to Donovan McNabb with a four-man rush. That means they’re going to have to blitz him. He and his receivers must be on the same page when the extra rushers come.
2. Tale of the takeaway: The Eagles have forced nine turnovers already, including four last week against the Bears. But they’re going up against an offense that has turned the ball over just once in four games. QB Jason Campbell, who fumbled 13 times last year, has gotten much better protecting the football and sensing pressure. He hasn’t thrown a pick in 124 attempts.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Brian Westbrook, a limited practice participant on Wednesday, when reporters aren't allowed to watch practice, seemed to be doing everything with the first-team offense Thursday, though Eagles coach Andy Reid said he had Westbrook end his session early, by design, so that Westbrook wouldn't tax his healing right ankle.
The practice didn't seem to involve really sharp cuts, but it's hard to remember an injury Westbrook practiced with and then didn't play on.
“Yeah, that was the plan," Reid told a pool reporter, when asked about Westbrook leaving early. "We’re throwing him in there a little bit more each day. He did a little more today than yesterday, and we’ll give him a little bit more tomorrow. We’re just being smart with it, and adding something every day.”
Daily News staff
You might have heard that the Eagles are coming off a loss -- something Andy Reid's teams used to handle better than just about anybody.
If you throw out his first season in 1999 when he was rebuilding the team, the Eagles under Reid were 16-3 after a regular-season loss from 2000 to 2004.
But since then, the Eagles are 13-11, including the win over Pittsburgh in Week 3 this season that followed the Monday night loss to Dallas.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The Eagles got tight end L.J. Smith back from a back injury as they began preparing Wednesday to play the Redskins this weekend. Running back Brian Westbrook made it through the morning walkthrough; it was unclear the extent to which he intended to participate in practice. It didn't sound as if he would do much, but Westbrook said: "I'm close. Getting closer daily."
P.M. UPDATE: Westbrook was listed as a limited practice participant. "It went well, it went well," Westbrook said afterward. "It went as well as could be expected."
Quarterback Donovan McNabb indicated he is thinking he will have Westbrook this weekend, until Westbrook really practices at full speed, no one knows that for sure.
