With the Eagles set to take off for San Diego in less than 26 hours, their starting left tackle has yet to practice this week. Jason Peters did not practice for the second straight day as he recovers from an ankle sprain. He was inside the practice bubble at the NovaCare complex today, but did not partake in team drills.

Brian Westbrook, meanwhile, is back and working with the first team. The running back skipped yesterday's workout partly because of his ankle, partly because the team was working indoors. Apparently, the astroturf wasn't enough to keep Westbrook out of practice today. If he's going to play he'll need to get some work in, although he has gone a week without practicing and has played on Sunday before.

If Peters can't make it back by the Chargers game, Todd Herremans will likely slide over from left guard, Nick Cole will move from right guard to left guard and Stacy Andrews or Max Jean-Gilles will take Cole's place. Peters re-injured his ankle against the Cowboys last week.

Moise Fokou, who missed yesterday's practice with the flu, was back practicing. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott confirmed today that if linebacker Akeem Jordan (knee) can't play Sunday, Chris Gocong will move to MIKE, Fokou will play SAM and Will Witherspoon will slide over to WILL. There could some flexibility is moving the linebackers around, McDermott added.

Quintin Demps did not practice today again. The safety has an ankle injury. Special teams coordinator Ted Daisher said today that Demps would replace the injured Ellis Hobbs in returning kicks, but if Demps isn't ready Jeremy Maclin will field kickoffs.

Fullback Leonard Weaver (ankle) returned to practice, as well.

According to a statement from his attorney, Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson was suspensded for four games by the NFL for testing positive for a diuretic.

The statement by attorney David Cornwell said Hanson felt "bloated" after eating Chinese food before last year's NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals and he took a pill "that turned out to be a diuretic."

"The urine specimen that Joselio provided after the game tested positive for a diuretic," Cornwell said. "Joselio did not use steroids or any other substance that would enhance his performance."

The Eagles still have not even acknowledged Hanson's suspension.

According to the web site mayoclinic.com, diuretics are typically used for weight loss and eating disorders as well as treating hypertension and glaucoma. The site also said that the drugs can be used as masking agents for steroid use.

Highly publicized cases involving former Saints running back Deuce McAllister and current defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant and current Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams also involved diuretics. All five men appealed their case, which involved the use of the diet drug StarCaps.

Cornwell said Hanson appealed his suspension and the process was delayed "pending a negotiated resolution of the StarCaps matter."

Here is the remainder of the statement:

"Throughout the Spring and Summer, the discussions among the parties included changing discipline that would be imposed for a first positive test for diuretics," Cornewell said in his statement. "This consideration was guided by the near-universal recognition that diuretics are rarely used to mask steroid use. It is noteworthy that the World Anti-Doping Agency recently implemented amendments that eviscerate the misplaced presumption about diuretics embedded in the NFL’s steroid policy and reduce discipline for diuretics to include warnings and, where appropriate, suspension.

"Subsequent to the recent judicial and administrative rulings in the StarCaps matter, Joselio’s appeal was scheduled for October 27, 2009. The hearing confirmed that the NFLPA and NFL Management Council have exchanged proposals regarding diuretics, with each party proposing substantial reductions in the discipline to be imposed for the first positive test for diuretics. Under the current competing proposals, no player would be suspended for four (4) games for the first positive test for diuretics.

"Recognizing that treatment of diuretics under the NFL steroid policy likely will be changed, we urged the NFL’s hearing officer to withhold a decision in Joselio’s case pending an agreement between the NFLPA and the NFLMC regarding diuretics. We also argued that the accommodation allowing the "StarCaps players" to continue playing supported allowing Joselio to continue playing as well. Our appeal to fairness was rejected and Joselio was notified yesterday that he is suspended for four (4) games, effective immediately.

"We are disappointed. Joselio accepts his responsibilities as an NFL player. Nonetheless, we suspect that he is a casualty of the looming labor war in the NFL. Here’s hoping that he is the last."

UPDATE

According to a statement from his attorney, Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson was suspended by the NFL for testing positive for a diurectic.

The statement by attorney David Cornwell said Hanson felt "bloated" after eating Chinese food before last year's NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals and he took a pill "that turned out to be a diurectic."

"The urine specimen that Joselio provided after the game tested positive for a diurectic," Cornwell said. "Joselio did not use steroids or any other substance that would enhance his performance."

More to come.

Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs is done for the season and will have neck surgery, coach Andy Reid said. Reid did not announce that cornerback Joselio Hanson is out, but he was not at practice today and second-year cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu said before practice that he has been promoted from the practice squad.

Reid didn't know the particulars of Hobbs' surgery, but he said that it wasn't likely career-threatening. Hobbs injured his spine in the loss to Dallas on Sunday night.

To replace Hobbs, the team signed corneback Ramzee Robinson, who last played for Detroit. Quintin Demps would be next in line to replace Hobbs in returning punts, but he currently is recovering from an ankle sprain was not at practice today. Demps said before practice that he will be ready for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers and he's looking forward to returning kicks, a role he held all of last season. Reid said that Macho Harris and Jeremy Maclin would be candidates to replace Hobbs if Demps can't go Sunday.

Brian Westbrook, meanwhile, will not practice today because of his sore ankle, Reid said. The Eagles are practicing indoors today and Westbrook has been known to sit out those sessions on astro turf. The running back missed the last two games with a concussion.

Tackle Jason Peters (sprained ankle) and linebacker Akeem Jordan (hyperextended knee) are also not practicing today. Reid said they were getting better, however. If Jordan can't play against the Chargers, Reid said he would use different combinations to replace him on the weak-side. Tracy White is the most obvious replacement.

In other news, wide receiver DeSean Jackson has signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus. Uh-oh.

Poll: Who should return kicks for the Eagles? (1579 votes)

Here are a few numbers to chew on after the Eagles' 20-16 loss to the Cowboys last night:

1. Eagles coach Andy Reid has had only 15 of his 46 challenges (32.6 pct.) overturned since 2000. In the last five seasons, he has gotten only 5 of 26 challenges (19.2) correct.

Reid couldn't get two crucial second half plays overturned with challenges last night. He had been 2-1 in challenges through the first seven games this season.

"The two missed challenges on my side of things, that was a problem and whether they were right or wrong they were wrong," Reid said today during his day-after debacle press conference. "That's my responsibility."

2. The Eagles are 1-8-1 in their last ten games that were decided by less than six points.

“That’s a pretty good stat,” Reid said. “There is probably some form of a link. I’m not sure what that link is, other than that stat. We have to do better in those situations on both sides of the ball.”

Reid also revealed sometime late in the pow-wow that Brian Westbrook, who sat out the Dallas game after symptoms from a concussion resurfaced, recently received treatment on his ankle. The Eagles coach said the ankle had nothing to do with the running back sitting out the game, but he did say it had something to do with Westbrook being held out of Friday's practice.

On Friday, however, he said Westbrook's not practicing was just a precaution, one he's used before with the oft-injured tailback. He reiterated today that Westbrook didn't complain of a recurring headache until Friday afternoon not long after Reid met with the media.

Are you as confused as I am? The point is, Reid and company were trying to hide Westbrook's injury and hide the fact that he wasn't going to play Sunday. I can think of several other ways that energy might have been better spent: Maybe working on short-yardage plays or how your coaching staff watches video replays.

But I digress.

Reid did say that Westbrook should be able to practice Wednesday. The running back has missed three games, one because of the ankle, two because of the concussion.

In other injury-related news:

Defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee) and linebacker Chris Gocong (quad, hammy) should be back to practice by Wednesday, Reid said. Cornerback/kick returner Ellis Hobbs will have his spine examined by doctors in the coming days. Safety Quintin Demps has an ankle sprain. Linebacker Akeem Jordan hyper-extended his knee, has a bone bruise and could be out for a little while. Jason Peters had an ankle sprain, but did return in the game.

Kevin Curtis, meanwhile, is expected to return to Philadelphia sometime this week. The receiver had arthroscopic surgery in Utah a few weeks ago and stayed out there to rehab afterward. He hasn't played since Week 2.

Despite assurances from Andy Reid on Friday that Brian Westbrook was still good to go, the Eagles running back will not dress for tonight’s Cowboys game. Westbrook has now missed two straight games after suffering a concussion at Washington two weeks ago.

"On Friday afternoon, Brian began experiencing symptoms of a mild headache," Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder said in a statement. "From that point forward, we had Brian re-evaluated by (team internist) Dr. Gary Dorshimer and we put him through extensive testing. Even though those tests were determined to be negative, we all thought it would be in the best interest of Brian and the team that he should be deactivated for tonight's game. We will continue to evaluate Brian this week."

Linebacker Chris Gocong, who injured his right quadriceps and hamstring last week, was also among the Eagles' inactives. Rookie Moise Fokou will start at strong-side linebacker in Gocong's place.

While his making last week’s game against the Giants was considered a long shot, there was almost every indication Westbrook would play vs. Dallas. He took almost all of the first-team repetitions at practice on Wednesday and Thursday and sounded confident that he would return when he met with reporters last week.

But he was held out of Friday’s practice and was listed as “questionable” on the team’s injury report. Reid, however, said that Westbrook would play.

“He has had two hard days of work and really [LeSean McCoy] hasn’t gotten a ton of reps so like I’ve done on other Fridays I kept Brian out and limited,” Reid said then.

McCoy will earn his third start of the season. He started against Kansas City in Week 3 when Westbrook sat with a sprained ankle and again last week. In the two starts the rookie ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. He and fullback Leonard Weaver accounted for 157 of the Eagles’ 180 yards on the ground against New York.

Westbrook has run for 197 yards and a score on 41 totes this season, but has lacked the explosiveness that used to be a trademark. The 30-year-old had off-season knee and ankle surgery and didn’t play throughout the preseason. He admitted on Wednesday that he was concerned about the long-term effects of a concussion -- this one the first of his career.

“It’s almost like a sense of uncertainty there,” he said. “You’re not quite sure what’s going to happen and how things work. I didn’t have a great understanding of concussions before.”

The Eagles' other inactives were: defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee), cornerback Dimitri Patterson (quadriceps, hand), wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee), guard Max Jean-Gilles (shoulder), running back P.J. Hill and guard Mike McGlynn.

All three quarterbacks are active.

Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. Check back for more updates.

Even though he practiced both Wednesday and Thursday, Brian Westbrook didn't take any repetitions at practice today and is listed as questionable for Sunday's showdown against the Cowboys.

Nevertheless, coach Andy Reid reiterated Wednesday's statement that Westbrook was "good to go" after missing last week's game against the Giants because of a concussion he suffered against the Redskins. According to Reid, Westbrook didn't have a recurrance of a headache and was held out as a precaution. The Eagles have lessened Westbrook's Friday load before.

Linebacker Chris Gocong, meanwhile, missed his third straight day of practice and was listed as doubtful. Defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee) was also doubtful. Gocong has quadriceps and hamstring injuries. If he can't play, rookie Moise Fokou will earn his first career NFL start.

Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley (knee), safety Macho Harris (ankle) and cornerback Dimitri Patterson (quadriceps, hand) were also listed as questionable. Reid said he felt confident that Bunkley would be able to play.

He also felt fairly sure about the availability of the following players who were listed as probable: defensive end Chris Clemons (shoudler, elbow), guard Nick Cole (knee), guard Todd Herremans (foot), defensive end Darren Howard (ankle), wide receiver DeSean Jackson (foot), guard Max Jean-Gilles (shoulder), wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (foot) and tackle Jason Peters (ankle).

Wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) is out.

Strongside linebacker Chris Gocong remained out of practice today as he continues to recover from quad and hamstring injuries he suffered to his right leg during Sunday's win over the New York Giants.

Having missed two straight practices, it's possible that Gocong could miss his first game since his rookie season when he missed the entire year after suffering a neck injury in the preseason.

If Gocong cannot play, rookie Moise Fokou is expected to make his first NFL start. Fokou replaced Gocong at strongside linebacker last week against the Giants and finished with three tackles.

In other injury news, defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley and defensive end Chris Clemons returned to the practice field. Bunkley had missed practice Wednesday with a sore knee and Clemons had been sidelined by a sprained shoulder joint. Both those injuries occured against the Giants.

Defensive end Victor Abiamiri, out the last two games because of a sprained knee, participated in individual drills and said before practice that he thought he was close to returning. It still seems unlikely that he will play Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said Sean Jones would remain the starter at free safety despite the return of rookie Macho Harris from an ankle injury. McDermott said he will rotate Jones, Harris and Quintin Demps at the free safety position.

According to Andy Reid, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has become a better leader since the departures of Brian Dawkins, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan.

"Guys that have been here a long time aren’t here," Reid said today at the NovaCare Complex. "He is that senior guy. ... Now he is it and he has a bunch of young guys around him, more than he has before, at this stage in his career. He even had to step it up a notch from what he did before, he always did a good job, but he just took it up another notch.”

McNabb said that the notch is at the same level it has always been.

“It’s really no different than what I’ve been doing the past couple of years," he said. "I think that at this particular point right now, because those guys are gone, that I guess they probably hear my voice a little bit more or pay more attention to what I’m saying."

Through most of his ten years in Philadelphia, McNabb has dealt with criticism over his leadership abilities.

“It’s always been overrated," McNabb said. "I think if you are a rah-rah guy that’s who you are. I’ve answered this for the last I don’t know how many years, but you say what you have to say and you prepare yourself to go out and play well. In certain [situations] you have to step up and talk to guys and communicate with them and make sure they’re on the same page. This isn’t me that you just sit and yell at them every day or yell at them every week. Some guys need it, some guys can take it, some guys can’t.”

So is McNabb a better leader or this whole leadership thing overrated nonsense? What say you?

In injury-related news, Reid said that Westbrook will be available to play Sunday against Dallas. The running back practiced today and, barring a setback with his concussion, is "good to go" for the NFC East showdown.

Wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) is out for Sunday and won't return to the area until next week, Reid said. Curtis is in Utah recovering from knee surgery.

The following players did not participate in practice today: defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee), defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley (knee), defensive end Chris Clemons (shoulder) and linebacker Chris Gocong (quadriceps/hamstring).

Safety Macho Harris (ankle) returned to practice after sitting out all of last week and missing the Giants game. Guard Max Jean-Gilles (shoulder) practiced, as well, but Reid said his status for Sunday was still up in the air.

The Giants came. They saw. And the Eagles conquered.

It is time to now gaze ahead to the Cowboys, who arrive in Philadelphia Sunday night with first place in the NFC East on the line. Eagles coach Andy Reid was asked about the 5-2 Cowboys today, who have won three straight.

“I think they’re playing aggressive," Reid said at his day-after news conference. "I think their offensive line and defensive line are playing very physical football. They’re giving [Cowboys QB] Tony [Romo] time to get back there and throw and then they match it with a good running game. Defensively, they’re flying around. [Cowboys head coach] Wade [Phillips] has taken over. They’re blitzing from all over the place. They have a whole variety of different blitzes. They’re utilizing everybody there.”

The 5-2 Eagles are fairly healthy heading into the Dallas game. Reid said that Brian Westbrook (concussion), who missed Sunday's game, should be back practicing by Wednesday. That doesn't mean the running back will be ready to go against the Cowboys, however.

"We're going to make sure that he's okay to perform," Reid said. "We're not going to do anything to put him in jeopardy."

Based off the run game's performance against New York, Reid may not need to rush Westbrook back.

Linebacker Chris Gocong has a quadriceps contusion and a hamstring strain, according to Reid, and is day-to-day. Defensive end Chris Clemons, who left the Giants game with a shoulder injury, is OK.

Defensive end Victor Abiamiri is still recovering from a knee strain and wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) is most likely out for the Dallas game.