Westy game-time decision; RB signed
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Westy game-time decision; RB signed
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Brian Westbrook's status for Sunday's showdown with the Giants will probably be a game-time decision, coach Andy Reid said. Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters Westbrook currently has a headache and won't be cleared to exercise until it goes away. Then his reaction to exercise will be monitored, and his scores on neurological testing will have to improve to baseline level.
Westbrook left Monday night's game with a concussion after being kneed in the head, and did not practice today.
It might be telling that the Eagles made a roster move Wednesday, signing running back P.J. Hill from the Saints' practice squad. To make space, linebacker Omar Gaither went on IR, officially ending his season following Lisfranc surgery.
Burkholder said Westbrook had brief retrograde amnesia -- he can't remember anything from the time the play was called until he woke up on the field -- but he was fully functional after waking up and still remembers all of that very clearly.
"We look at his symptoms the next couple of days ... Whether he has headaches" or other symptoms such as depression," Burkholder said.
Burkholder said being knocked out briefly means you can't return to the game being played, but it does not preclude playing the next week.
"We're not too worried about his loss of conciousness ... It's really based on the symptoms," Burkholder said. He said under current guidelines, which are based on recovery, not the incident, it's impossible right now to classify the concussion by grade.
Burkholder serves on the NFL concussion panel, and he stressed he takes head injuries very seriously. He said team internist Dr. Gary Dorshimer is in charge of situation with Westbrook.
Wide receiver DeSean Jackson did not practice, with his foot injury. Ditto Darren Howard, with an ankle problem.
Defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee) and wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) are out this week, the Eagles said.
Brian is still the best player on this team period whether he is 30 or 22??— mikey48- No way Westbrook should be suited up until after the Cowgirls. AR and MM better be working on protection packages for 5 because the last time Westbrook was out Osi had a career game.— Joe Funk
- love westy but if fat andy lets him play, he shud be put in jail for attempted homicide. no doubt westy will want in! and i want him in there but who wants him to end up like andre waters? he still has a headache today.....he wont be really ready for another 20 days or so..........— iloveprimerib!
- Don't expect much from Hill. A bruiser with, a best, modest skills. Can't believe he was the best option off of practice squads. Oh, and keep him away from cars ... has had some run-in's (or run aways?) with the law. Truly an odd signing, but we'll see ...— CarpGuy
Comment removed.- Irony: WewantaSBring supports the biggest impediment to that goal.— Joe Funk
- Comment removed.
- I can tell you Eagle fans this, as a Saint fan, we were looking at this guy for the future, and he showed good promise, but had too many RBs ahead of him this year. I believe y'all got a good player.— BigAlHeDMan
- There are times wqhen I wonder who in the hell are you people, Eagles fans, I don't think so.— oldeaglesfan
- Hopefully we let Westbrook get his head right before putting him out there again. Head injuries are no joke, and things like this are bigger than the game of football. Look at Muhammed Ali for an example of this.— FKD215
