Westy: Couldn't Cut on Ankle
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said tonight that his decision not to play in Sunday's loss to Chicago came from the fact that when he tested his injured ankle, he could run forward but he couldn't cut on it.
Westy: Couldn't Cut on Ankle
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said that when he warmed up at Soldier Field Sunday, he couldn't maneuver quite well enough to play in the Eagles' loss to the Bears.
"We warmed up and we tested it. It just wasn't right. You would hate to go out there and injure it more, and then be out for two, three, or four more weeks," Westbrook, who suffered an ankle strain Sunday a week ago against Pittsburgh, said tonight on his ESPN 950-AM radio show.
"I was just trying to get a feel for how much pain there was going to be with running. I felt OK running straight. The problem was going, just the little simple weaves and things like that, just carrying and cutting, that was a problem, more than anything. At that point, I knew that it probably wasn't wise to go."
Toward the end of his foray onto the field, Westbrook conferred with team head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and general manager Tom Heckert.
"I told him how I felt," Westbrook said, referring to Heckert. "Tom's a reasonable guy. He wants what's best for the team, but he also wants what's best for me, as well. "I told him how I felt, I told him the pain that I was having, him and Rick, I was honest with them, they went and conferenced with coach (Andy) Reid, and they made the decision."
Earlier today, in Reid's regular day-after news conference, the coach said that if Westbrook had to practice Monday, he couldn't have. Reid said he wasn't sure about Westbrook's status for the next time the Eagles really do practice, on Wednesday. This would seem to indicate it isn't a given that Westbrook will play Sunday at home against the Redskins.
Even more ominous was Reid's disclosure that right guard Shawn Andrews' back doesn't feel better, two weeks after he injured it in Dallas, and that Andrews will see a specialist this week.
Reid also indicated it was unlikely that wideout Kevin Curtis, back doing scout team work as he recovers from sports hernia surgery, will become more than a limited practice participant this week.
The only good injury news was that Reid said L.J. Smith's back feels better.
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Who could tell that you were born in Philly? Why with your short, reactionary, rush to judgement philosophy -- go figure ?????- No— ccb2008
- PROBABLY NOT........THE WAY THE SKINS PLAYED AGAINST THE COWBOYS, I'M NOT SURE THEY COULD BEAT THEM 'WITH HIM EITHER'— wes
- PROBABLY NOT........THE WAY THE SKINS PLAYED AGAINST THE COWBOYS, I'M NOT SURE THEY COULD BEAT THEM 'WITH HIM EITHER'— wes
- Ye of course they can— cheleyman
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- Mark it down. Andrews will see a specialist who will say that he can't play for the rest of the season. They place him on IR and he's goners. Real reason? The dude needs therapy for his depression and the back injury is a smokescreen to get him off the field for 2008 and the help he deserves.— Nova
- That's pretty much what one would expect with a sprained ankle...might take a few games to get right— riverhealer
- McNabb sucks as a quarterback. He's a crybaby, a whiner, and a bigot.— apouchano
- How many games for McNabb gets injured? 4? 5? Now taking all bets.— p-diddy
- the guy has ligament tears in his ankle...— tokar
- Does a bear sh!+ in the woods?— Super5
- Now we REALLY know that taking Felix Jones in the first round couldn't have helped us. Do you think that he'd be a viable replacement for Westbrook? Andy Reid's time has come and gone.— Original #11
- I love hearing that collective sound of the NEGAdelphians jumping off the bandwagon. Get off - we don't want or need you. Please - continue to bash the Egales when they beat the 'Skins this week - and continue to get better and stronger each week. No one is pleased with the 2 losses - but if you are a fan - you support them and KNOW they will come back with the fire and heat in the next game. The Eagles are focused on Washington and have left the bad taste back in Chicago. Go Eagles!— mebphila
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- I have to admit--I'm getting tired of hearing it's early and the season just started that attitude is driving me crazy-Will someone Please face facts-- We have to get it together now-Not next week or within two weeks-NFC Division is not waiting on us-Maybe we need to see if there is a nfl player out there with some talent sitting on the coach who will play hard for 1 year on base salary contract.— phillyboymike7
