Eagles' Westbrook seems on target to return Sunday at San Diego

"He looked like he had a little bounce in his step here the last couple of days," Reid said after Westbrook's ouchy left knee and ankle held up for back-to-back practices on the not-so-forgiving indoor surface at NovaCare.

Reid said he went easy on Westbrook in yesterday's session, for that reason.

"I've been hesitant to put him on the turf . . . we rotated a little bit today. He took a lot of reps [Thursday], and he had a lot of bounce and he came out feeling good and [reporting] no problems," Reid said.

Westbrook declined to speak with reporters, though he was heard to say, "I feel good," as he walked out of the locker room, wearing a large ice bag on his left knee. That's a normal precaution, especially with a long flight ahead.

Asked how he listed Westbrook on the Friday injury report, Reid said: "Playing. Probable."

Last Friday, even though Westbrook supposedly sat out practice only to give LeSean McCoy some extra reps, Westbrook was listed as "questionable." He ended up not playing against Dallas, despite having practiced Wednesday and Thursday, when he seemed very much a part of the Birds' plans. Later, the Eagles said Westbrook suffered ankle swelling Friday and a headache Saturday, which led to the decision to keep him on the sideline during the 20-16 loss.

Of course, any return of concussion symptoms could change this week's plan as well, though the Eagles have said Westbrook's headaches have ceased.

If Westbrook were to get a headache at this point, "I'd look at it," Reid said. "We'll have our doctors with us, so if he has a headache, I want to know why."

Westbrook is scheduled to split time with the rookie, McCoy, as he has done all season.

"He'll continue to rotate, and we'll just see how he does," Reid said. "I'm not going to just throw him in for the whole game. LeSean has done a nice job when he's been called on, so that gives us some flexibility."

Andy WHO said WHAT?

 

Jason Peters didn't really want to stop to talk to a reporter as he left the locker room yesterday, but Peters did slow down long enough to look both puzzled and affronted when informed that Andy Reid had just listed him as "questionable" for tomorrow's game.

"I'm playing," Peters said, and then he resumed his previous pace.

Peters did not practice yesterday, and has not practiced this week, after suffering a sprained ankle in last Sunday's loss to Dallas. In practice, the Eagles have moved Todd Herremans out from left guard into Peters' left-tackle spot, and they've also given first-team reps to King Dunlap. Yesterday, Herremans seemed to get the nod.

"He's making progress," Reid said of Peters. "We'll just see how he does here in the next couple days. If it works out OK with the flight and the practice tomorrow, there's a chance he still plays."

Reid wouldn't specify what he'll do if Peters can't go, or has to leave the game early. The logical play would be to move Herremans, switch Nick Cole from right to left guard, and put either Stacy Andrews or Max Jean-Gilles at right guard. That was what Reid did last week, when Peters missed a few series after getting hurt.

Herremans said that if he needs to move, he feels more ready than he was during the Dallas game.

"I hadn't taken tackle reps since training camp, but I got to take some this week," Herremans said.

Deferred debut

 

Cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu spent his entire 2008 rookie season on injured reserve after suffering a serious knee injury preparing for the draft. That was how the Eagles got him in the fourth round, at least a few rounds below where he'd been projected following his senior season at Wisconsin.

While trying to get his knee up to speed, Ikegwuonu continued to deal with seemingly endless court delays involving a burglary charge from 2006. He ultimately was acquitted, just before camp began this summer at Lehigh.

But in camp, Ikegwuonu did not quite show the quickness or the cutting ability the Eagles had hoped to see; he was released and re-signed to the practice squad when the season began, with the idea that he needed more time to strengthen leg muscles on the affected knee.

This week, with Ellis Hobbs out for the season following a neck injury and Joselio Hanson suspended for the next four games because of a drug test that turned up a banned diuretic, Ikegwuonu finally made it to the active roster, and is scheduled to at least compete on special teams tomorrow at San Diego. His official Eagles debut will arrive a scant 19 months after he was drafted.

"It's been a long road," Ikegwuonu said as he prepared to fly to California. "I'm excited . . . Being on the practice squad was not the easiest thing in the world, but [it's important to] take the right approach and take it as a challenge."

Ikegwuonu hasn't really played football since the preseason, which was a while ago now.

"I don't know if anything can really prepare you for playing in a game until you actually play in a game," he said. "We'll see what happens this week . . . I think, for the most part, I'm pretty comfortable with the speed of the game and everything."

Birdseed

 

Quintin Demps (ankle) practiced yesterday and is scheduled to return to his old kick-return role tomorrow, in place of Ellis Hobbs, though the Eagles list Demps as "questionable." Ditto defensive end Victor Abiamiri, though Abiamiri probably isn't going to dress ahead of productive Jason Babin. Abiamiri's status might hinge on how comfortable the coaches would be sitting, say defensive tackle Trevor Laws, figuring Abiamiri can play inside in passing situations . . . Wide receiver Kevin Curtis and linebacker Akeem Jordan are officially out with knee injuries, though there was an official Curtis sighting in the NovaCare weight room . . . Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman missed his second consecutive day of practice with a sore foot and is listed as questionable. Linebacker Shaun Phillips (ankle) practiced for the first time this week and is also questionable, although he is expected to play. Tight end Antonio Gates (foot) and running back LaDainian Tomlinson (hip) both practiced and are listed as probable.

For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.