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Vick likely out; Foles expected to start

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is not expected to play in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to a league source. Vick's absence would pave the way for Nick Foles to start.

Eagles quarterbacks Michael Vick and Nick Foles. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)
Eagles quarterbacks Michael Vick and Nick Foles. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)Read more

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is not expected to play in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to a league source. Vick's absence would pave the way for Nick Foles to start.

However, Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Monday that no decision has been made on which one will start. Vick underwent an MRI exam that revealed a pulled left hamstring, and Kelly said Vick is "day-to-day" and probably won't practice Tuesday. The coach didn't say when Vick needs to practice to have any chance of playing Sunday.

"I don't know until we see how it goes," Kelly said. "I'm not going to predict the future. I don't know where we are with that."

Even if Kelly is publicly holding out hope, look for Foles to get his seventh career start. It would come at the site of Foles' only career victory as a starter.

Foles played in relief duty during a 36-21 win over the Giants on Sunday and finished 16 of 25 for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly said that Foles was "inconsistent at times" and that the Eagles could have been more productive, but he added that he was pleased Foles didn't turn over the ball.

What has stood out to Kelly is the way Foles has prepared during the last month as the backup quarterback. Foles has received 15 to 20 percent of the snaps with the first team during the week.

"We said before, 'You're a chin strap away from having to come in the game,' " Kelly said. "Some guys, that's cliché talk, and other guys take it seriously. So Nick has prepared himself like he's going to be the starter every week. When his opportunity came, I think he took advantage of it."

Now Foles has the chance to continue taking advantage of it - and perhaps even trigger a quarterback controversy. The NFL has a number of starting quarterbacks who were backups and earned their job because of injuries to the starter. Vick is among that group.

After Sunday's game, Kelly said Vick would remain his quarterback. Asked twice Monday whether Foles could win the job, Kelly was less resolute, saying, "There's always open competition." At first, he joked that Foles could win the job if Foles throws 100 for 100 and 27 touchdowns, before later answering it seriously.

"If someone comes in and puts on an unbelievable performance, you have to take it all into account," Kelly said. "That's my point."

Kelly couldn't explain his measure for an "unbelievable" performance. He couched it by saying if Foles plays and has an outstanding game, "that would be great for everybody involved."

Maybe not so great for Vick, who is 33 and on a one-year contract. Vick has been a strong fit in Kelly's offense. Foles could get the chance to match him. Kelly said there is not a different set of plays for the quarterbacks.

"We do the same things offensively with Nick that we did with Mike, so we didn't have to deviate much from anything in terms of what we're doing, and I think that's the beauty of those guys," Kelly said. "There are some things that Nick does different than Mike does. But it's not like we have to say, 'Hey, we're going to be an I-formation team on Sunday if Nick's in the game.' "

Kelly said there's a "big misconception" that the Eagles are heavy on read-option plays. He said it wasn't a part of Sunday's play-calling. Vick ran quarterback sweeps, and there are different concepts in the running game for Foles.

Vick's absence also would mean the Eagles must dress Matt Barkley, the fourth-round pick who has been inactive through five games. Barkley is expected to get more snaps in practice this week. Kelly said Barkley has looked good on the scout team, and he gets individual work every day with quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor.

"He's around here all the time, he studies all the time," Kelly said. "[He's] not going to have the reps that Nick had, but I feel comfortable in what Matt can do as a quarterback."

Barkley would be "a chin strap away," as Foles was last week. But less than a week before the game, Foles is expected to be the quarterback and Vick is expected to be sidelined. The question is, How long for both?

@ZBerm