IS STOCKPILING DEFENSEMEN
Brian Westbrook will not play tonight against the Chicago Bears. The Eagles' star running back warmed up before the game at Soldier Field, but it was determined afterward that he should not play on the strained right ankle he suffered in the second quarter of last week's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This will be the 10th time since 2003 that the Eagles have played a game without Westbrook. They are 5-5 in those games and have averaged 17.6 points per game. This is the first game Westbrook has missed since Week 4 of last season when he sat out a Sunday night game against the New York Giants. The Eagles lost that game 16-3.
Correll Buckhalter will start at tailback. This will be Buckhalter's fourth start in the last three seasons and first this year.
In addition to Westbrook, tight end L.J. Smith will be out with a back injury and guard Shawn Andrews will miss his second straight game with a back injury. Neither Smith nor Andrews made the trip to Chicago with the team Saturday. Also inactive were defensive ends Victor Abiamiri and Bryan Smith, guard Mike McGlynn and wide receiver Kevin Curtis.
Devin Hester will play for the Bears after missing last week's game against Tampa Bay with torn rib cartilage, but Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris will not play because of an injury to his left knee. Israel Idonije will start in place of Harris.
