"I never felt that before in my life," the Eagles linebacker said yesterday. "It scared me a little bit. . . . I couldn't sleep."

It was just another in a long stream of sleepless nights for the Eagles this season when it comes to their linebackers. Already missing Stewart Bradley, Omar Gaither, and Akeem Jordan because of injuries, the Birds face the prospect of having Trotter, a stopgap at best, playing at less than full strength.

And tomorrow's opponent, Washington, even with its banged-up offense, is always tough.

Both coach Andy Reid and Trotter insist the veteran will be ready for the Redskins, but Reid still listed Trotter as questionable - 50-50 in common parlance - on the injury report.

"I could have gone today, but they wanted to give me some time off," said Trotter, who was held out of practice. "I think I was due for an 'old man day' anyway."

Trotter's health might not have been cause for concern a few weeks ago, since he was hardly playing. But with Jordan out for the third straight week with a hyperextended knee, Trotter's role has increased. He and Joe Mays split time at middle linebacker in the last game, against Chicago, and were expected to do the same tomorrow.

Reid said there was a "chance" Jordan could return by next week.

Trotter had his knee examined by the Eagles' medical staff yesterday, and it found inflammation. Rather than allow him to practice on the indoor turf, the team held the 32-year-old out. Mays took all the repetitions in the middle instead.

"I've been through a whole lot of knee issues throughout my career," Trotter said. "It was one of those things you do what you can during the week. Once you get to 32, [with] five knee surgeries, there's only so much you're going to get during the week anyway."

Trotter said his knees felt fine after the Bears game even though it was the most he had played all season. Mays played most of the first half but made a few errors, and the Eagles switched exclusively to Trotter down the stretch.

If Trotter can't go, Mays will likely get the first start of his NFL career. The second-year pro had the first shot at replacing Bradley, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury during training camp, but he failed to secure the job.

Gaither earned the position, but he, too, went down for the year in Game 5.

The Eagles traded for Will Witherspoon after Gaither's injury, and he started in the middle for three games. He slid over to weak-side when Jordan went down, but he could move back into the middle in a pinch.

Mays, though, will probably get the first opportunity. If he gets the call, he'll be the fifth starting middle linebacker this season, joining Gaither, Trotter, Witherspoon, and Chris Gocong, who was a one-game experiment but has since moved back to strong-side.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, Mays continues to learn on the job.

"A lot of stuff that Joe sees is going to take time," Trotter said. "Some stuff he's not going to get until he's seen a lot of reps. You can drill it into him all day long in the meeting room. He can get it right on the practice field. Some stuff happens in the game. It's just going to take time. I went through those growing pains."

If there's a game to be shorthanded at middle linebacker - if you could say that - it's this one. The Redskins are down to their third-string running back, and their Eagles-killing tight end is likely done for the season.

Clinton Portis (concussion) and Ladell Betts (knee) are out, and Rock Cartwright gets the nod at running back.

Tight end Chris Cooley broke his ankle in the Eagles' 27-17 win over Washington last month. His replacement, Fred Davis, had eight catches for 78 yards and a TD in that game.

There is no sure thing, however. Washington has one of the league's best defenses and somehow found a way to lose last week to the Cowboys, 7-6, despite shutting the Dallas offense out for most of the game.

The Eagles are tying to stay one game behind 8-3 Dallas. Division games are important in case of a tie.

"It's an NFC East opponent, which makes it even that much more," Reid said. "They're rival games, and it really doesn't matter. You can get out there, and it can be a bloody-nose fight."

Samuel back. There was positive news for the Birds. Cornerback Asante Samuel practiced despite missing the previous two days. He was also deemed questionable, but there didn't seem to be any worry that his neck strain would keep him from starting alongside Sheldon Brown, who is probable with a hamstring strain.

"Tell everyone A. Samuel is OK," A. Samuel said.

Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com.