Asked about his condition, McNabb laughed and said, "I feel great," before walking out of the team's locker room. Still, he did not practice yesterday - as he hasn't all week - and Kevin Kolb took every snap with the first team - as he has all week.

Kolb has mentally considered himself the starter, while various players have already penciled him in under center. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson went on Jim Rome's radio show yesterday afternoon and announced that Kolb would start.

A team spokesman, who said that Reid was alerted to Jackson's statement, said, "Players don't make personnel decisions."

Kolb, if he doesn't know already, said he would like to know his status as soon as possible. But in the same breath, the 25-year-old said that he has done nothing but prepare as if tomorrow will be the day of his first NFL start.

"That's the way I have to think of it," Kolb said. "If I do let that little bit of doubt creep in, it may cause me to relax a little bit, and I don't want to relax in my preparation."

Considering the three other quarterbacks on the Eagles' roster, it's amazing to track the perfect storm that led Kolb to the first team.

McNabb broke his rib Sunday against Carolina. Michael Vick is still serving out the remainder of a two-game suspension. And Jeff Garcia, who was released by Oakland two weeks ago and signed by the Eagles on Monday, took fewer practice snaps than Vick with the scout team. All told, the three have 12 Pro Bowl appearances.

So Kolb has been handed the reins, and that means giving him every opportunity to succeed even if having Garcia as the backup could signal a quick hook.

"If Kevin starts the game, then he's our quarterback," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Thursday. "It's that simple. I don't know if I can be any more clear."

Even though Garcia is well-versed in the Eagles' West Coast offense, the 39-year-old had no repetitions with the starters this week, settling instead for scout-team duty.

"There are a couple of new wrinkles [in the offense] that I have to get used to," said Garcia. "I have to picture them in my head, because I haven't had the physical reps."

Kolb, according to various accounts, did nothing during the week of practice that would lead one to believe that he's not ready.

"He seems to be doing what he needs to do as far as managing the team," Garcia said. "He's not going out on the field and making many mistakes. He's handling it like he's been there before."

Kolb has been on the field before, but the results - either in relief or during mop-up duty - have been underwhelming. In 45 regular-season pass attempts, he has thrown four interceptions. Last week against the Panthers, he was run down for two needless sacks, one of which resulted in a fumble. Following the elusive McNabb is a tough act.

"It has really gotten a lot better this week," Kolb said. "We've done a good job of trying to get the ball out quick and . . . no sacks."

McNabb was a spectator at all three practices this week and could be seen conferring with Kolb on occasion.

"He's let me do my thing," Kolb said. "And he's respectful. He's the No. 1 cheerleader. . . . When I hit a good throw, he was the first one saying something and screaming."

McNabb left practice early yesterday to receive treatment on his rib. On Wednesday, Reid said that the doctors used to the term sticky to describe the condition in which a fractured rib must get before it can heal.

"I don't know what that means," McNabb said. "I never heard that in my life."