Jackson has concussion, Celek might have torn ligaments in hand

As bad as it was before, it got even worse.

The Eagles, already reeling from injury issues, might visit Atlanta on Sunday without the services of Donovan McNabb's top two targets.

Slim receiver DeSean Jackson took a powerful shot to the upper body from Redskins crusher London Fletcher. Jackson caught a ball over the middle and was hammered by Fletcher, who outweighs Jackson by about 70 pounds.

Jackson left the game with a concussion and did not return.

Later in the game, tight end Brent Celek was seen having his left hand taped on the sideline. Celek said after the game he might have torn ligaments in the hand. As he left the stadium his hand was mummified with tape and wrap, especially around his left thumb.

At least Celek was lucid.

Jackson was not knocked out, according to the team, but he didn't totally have his wits about him, either.

"(Jackson) just was a little groggy," said coach Andy Reid, "but he was able to get up and get off the field and all that fairly quick."

Reid said Jackson's concussion was not as severe as the concussion running back Brian Westbrook suffered Oct. 26 in Washington, also at the hands of Fletcher, the Skins' middle linebacker. Westbrook lost consciousness when he was hit in the back of the helmet by Fletcher's knee. Westbrook suffered a second concussion Nov. 15 in San Diego, his first game after the initial injury. The Eagles said Westbrook's second concussion was not as severe as his first one.

The first concussion cost Westbrook two games. The second had sidelined him the past two games, and will cost him at least one more this weekend.

Westbrook could have high-profile company on the sideline. Without Westbrook, Jackson has become the Eagles' most dangerous weapon. He entered the game as the league's top punt returner. He has an 85-yard return for a touchdown, a 67-yard touchdown run and six TD receptions, all of 35 yards or longer. The 35-yarder came yesterday. It was his shortest score of the season.

It might be his last for some time.

Jackson's injury was chilling in the light of Westbrook's. He was guided off the field after making his 44th catch of the season. Jackson then sat on a padded table on the sideline. As team trainers attended to him, he wiggled the left side of his jaw with his hand, and, for moments at a time, held his head in his hands. He soon left the field with an escort.

Considering the NFL's recent scramble to address concerns about players with concussions, it would be surprising to see Jackson return too quickly.

Celek, meanwhile, did not miss significant time. He was part of the team's offensive packages as the game progressed, but, he said, he would have struggled to catch a pass had one been thrown to him.

That's remarkable, since Celek leads the team with 54 catches, four of them coming today.

In a departure from his well-worn routine, Reid did not begin his postgame press conference with a list the injuries from the game. He addressed only the injury to Jackson. Asked specifically after the game about other injuries, Reid implied they were minor, since the players in question either did not miss time or returned to the game.

As the week progresses, though, the injury list could fill up further.

Weakside linebacker Will Witherspoon missed at least one play with an ankle injury in the third quarter. Joe Mays replaced him, blew his coverage assignment and gave up the go-ahead touchdown.

Defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley missed a series with a right ankle injury, but he returned, too. The Eagles actually stiffened on a fourth-quarter, goal-line stand without Bunkley, whose replacement, Antonio Dixon, helped stuff two running plays.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown lost his footing early in the game and aggravated the hamstring injury he has played with the past 2 weeks. He remained in the game.

"Exercising mental toughness," Brown explained.

He is not alone.

Left tackle Jason Peters appeared to fare well on his bum ankle, which cost him a start 2 weeks ago. He aggravated the injury last week.

Asante Samuel's strained neck, suffered last week, didn't keep him from making two interceptions and playing the whole game . . . though his newfound aggression was tempered a bit.

Starting linebacker Akeem Jordan missed his third straight game with a hyperextended knee after participating in the week's practices limited basis.

Middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was limited all week with a chronically sore knee, but he appeared to exit the game well.

And, of course, there is Westbrook.

Et al.