'A Stretch' for Vick; Kolb Focuses on SF, Not QB Job
Eagles coach Andy Reid said he would not rule out quarterback Michael Vick for Sunday's game at San Francisco, but conceded "it would be a stretch" for him to play.
Vick sustained damage to his rib cartilage during the first half against the Redskins. Reid said Vick remains sore and has swelling in the chest area, but is more comfortable than he was Monday.
Reid said no one knows how long Vick will be out. Vick told a Virginia Beach radio station Monday that he thought he would be out no more than two weeks.
Kevin Kolb will take all first-team reps in practice.
"Win," Kolb said, when asked what he would like to do differently this week. Kolb replaced Vick when Vick went down near the end of the first quarter. He moved the ball but had trouble aggressively attacking the Redskins' Cover 2 scheme. "They were playing a style of defense that called for (throwing underneath). Going back and watching the film, there may have been one or two that I could have been a little more aggressive on, but as a whole ... I had to take what they give me. If you get too aggressive and don't play your own system and play what they're giving you, then you're not making the right reads. That's my only focus ... to keep doing the right thing with the ball, and put us in a better position to win."
Asked if Kolb theoretically could play his way back into the starting job while Vick is injured, Reid said: "right now, I'm focused in on San Francisco."
Kolb was asked whether he thought he had such a chance.
"If I get into all that, then I'm focusing on the wrong thing," Kolb said. "My focus right now is to go beat San Francisco and make sure I do my part to do that."
The Eagles have no plans to bring in a quarterback for the short term while Vick heals, Reid said, adding that the team also won't be bringing in a running back or wide receiver.
"Right now I'm not making any transactions," Reid said.
Running back LeSean McCoy, who has a cracked rib, did not practice, although it is possible he could practice tomorrow. Wide receiver Riley Cooper and cornerback Asante Samuel, who both had concussions, also did not practice, although Samuel took part in today's walkthrough and could practice tomorrow. Cooper will not practice tomorrow, Reid said. He said he was "pretty sure" that Samuel and Cooper will be able to play Sunday.
On defense, Moise Fokou is back as the starting SAM, ahead of Akeem Jordan, both players said today. "I'm there to instill a physical presence," said Fokou. The Eagles' defense is ranked 27th against the run.
Fokou began training camp as the starter at that spot, lost his job after one workout, spent most of the preseason trying to learn to be a defensive end, an now is back as the SAM.
"You gotta ask the front desk," he said when asked what he makes of all this. "I'm just here to play football."
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The Eagles did not work out any quarterbacks, running backs or wide receivers yesterday, despite the injury situations at those positions. As we told you yesterday, a short-term move seems unlikely.
They did, however, work out guard Donald Thomas, according to Adam Caplan of Foxsports.com.
Thomas, 25, started 13 games over the last two seasons with Miami after being drafted in the sixth round in 2008. He lost his starting spot in training camp and was released. He has worked out for seven teams thus far, but has not been signed.
Offensive line remains an issue for the Eagles. Nick Cole did not play against Washington with a continuing problems with his knee. Max Jean-Gillies got the start. A week earlier, Cole was pulled because of the injury and replaced by Reggie Wells, acquired at the start of the season from Arizona. That Wells did not draw the starting assignment is telling. Coach Andy Reid was not glowing in his praise for Jean-Gillies during his Monday news conference.
We will see what happens next ...
More to come today from NovaCare as the Eagles return to practice.