Eagles Notes: Nnamdi Asomugha returns to Eagles-Giants game after eye injury

Nnamdi Asomugha left Sunday's game in the second quarter with an eye injury, but he returned to the sideline six minutes into the third quarter and later reentered the game.

The Eagles' top cornerback walked off the field holding his right eye before the medical staff examined him on the sideline. At one point, it appeared Asomugha had drops placed into his eye. Asomugha then returned to the locker room.

The team initially reported that he was taken to Wills Eye Hospital for further tests, but he was not.

Without Asomugha on the field, Brandon Hughes filled in at cornerback. Normally a special teams ace, Hughes served as team captain on Sunday. He was once on the Giants practice squad.

The lights in Lincoln Financial Field went off at the beginning of halftime, and a light show and video presentation were shown to honor former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins. Eagles play-by-play announcer Merrill Reese then introduced Dawkins, who spoke to the crowd.

"I want to thank all of you fans for allowing me to be me and act a fool when I wanted to," Dawkins said to the crowd. "I can retire now because I know I left everything I got on this doggone field!"

Dawkins concluded by leading the crowd in a rendition of the team's fight song, "Fly, Eagles, Fly!"

During the Eagles' pregame introductions, Dawkins was announced as the last player. Wearing an Eagles jersey, he performed his "Idiot Man" routine.

Before the game, the Eagles held a ceremony at Lincoln Financial Field's Headhouse Plaza to officially retire Dawkins' number.

"Hallelujah!" Dawkins screamed to a packed house when he took the podium.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie introduced Dawkins, who was dressed in a dark suit and green tie. A black curtain was taken down to display Dawkins' No. 20 jersey situated next to Reggie White's No. 92.

"I will always be an Eagle in my heart, and I will always, always look to represent this organization to best of my abilities," Dawkins told the crowd at the pregame ceremony.

Eagles co-owner Christina Lurie then unveiled a portrait of Dawkins.

The Eagles missed left tackle King Dunlap for the second consecutive game and Akeem Jordan for the first time this season. Jamar Chaney started in Jordan's place at weakside linebacker, and Demetress Bell started at left tackle.

The other players inactivated were wide receiver Riley Cooper, running back Dion Lewis, safety Colt Anderson, offensive lineman Nate Menkin, and defensive end Vinny Curry.

The Eagles kept three quarterbacks active on Sunday, dressing Trent Edwards for the first time since the opener.

One underrated aspect of Eli Manning's game is his ability to carry through play-action fakes.

With the success the Eagles were having rushing the Giants quarterback, Manning was able to buy himself some time with the sleight of hand.

The Giants were unable to take advantage of excellent early field position. Their first drive started on their own 39-yard line. But after one first down, the Giants were forced to punt. The Giants' second drive began on their own 46, but they failed to get a first down.

During those first two series, Eagles first-round draft choice Fletcher Cox was continually putting heat on Manning.

On the Eagles' first scoring drive, a key play was a 17-yard completion from Michael Vick to Damaris Johnson to the Giants 42.

What was impressive was that Vick got hammered by a blitzing safety Will Hill. Vick knew he was going to get crunched and still completed the pass. The Eagles later scored to end the drive on a 19-yard pass from Vick to DeSean Jackson.

The Giants scored on a Lawrence Tynes 25-yard field goal with five seconds left in the first half. But on the play before, Hughes dropped what would have been an interception in the end zone of a pass intended for Domenik Hixon.

Jason Avant briefly left the game with a wrist injury. . . . Giants safety Kenny Phillips left the game with a knee sprain.