Gotta like the BIRDs HUGE !!!
Barring any unforeseen setbacks, four Eagles starters will return for Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Running back Brian Westbrook (ribs), tight end L.J. Smith (groin), tackle William Thomas (knee) and guard Todd Herremans (knee) all practiced on Friday and, according to coach Andy Reid, "should be ready to go."
Westbrook, Thomas and Herremans are listed as probable, while Smith and cornerback Lito Sheppard (knee) are questionable. Safety Brian Dawkins (neck) is out, and receiver Greg Lewis, who injured his ankle during Wednesday’s practice, is doubtful.
Dawkins has been sent to see a specialist. He suffered the stinger Week 3 against Washington.
“He’ll be back for next week’s practices,” Reid said. “It’s still bothering him, so we’re looking at different ways – people that we know and trust.”
Reid said the injury is not something that should be considered career threatening.
“Not at all. It’s not that kind of thing,” Reid said. “It’s not one where he’s worried about that. Nerves are crazy. We’re just going to get him taken care of and see how he does here as we get into next week.”
Quintin Mikell again will replace Dawkins at free safety.
"Quintin Mikell has done a great job," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said.
Westbrook and Thomas return after missing last Sunday’s loss to the Giants. Both were injured a week earlier in the win over Detroit. Westbrook practiced all week. Thomas did not practice Wednesday but did practice on Thursday and Friday.
“He feels pretty good right now,” Reid said. “It worked out well for him yesterday.”
Smith returns after having surgery to help his groin injury heal on Sept. 21. He played in the season’s first two games but was clearly slowed by the groin. On Sunday he will share playing time with Matt Schobel and Brent Celek.
“He feels a lot better now. He feels a little bit looser in that area,” Reid said. “I’m not going to ask him to play the whole game. He’ll get in, we’ll see how he feels and try to be smart with this.”
Herremans will play despite undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Oct. 2. After missing Wednesday’s practice and practicing briefly Thursday, he participated in the entire practice Friday.
“I kind of put in my head that I wanted to be back in time for the Jets game,” Herremans said. “It felt good today. It felt real good.”
Herremans, who hasn't missed a game this season, had a piece of cartilage removed that he said didn’t affect his mobility but was causing him discomfort.
“He’s a tough kid. What he’s done is unbelievable,” Reid said. “The thing that he was able to do was keep the swelling down. In that kind of situation, when you’re dealing with cartilage, you don’t have to go in there. You’re just cutting a piece of cartilage away – you’re not having to go in and repair something and sew it back together. So that helps, but that’s the kind of kid he is – very, very tough and determined.”
Although the surgery wasn’t considered major, Herremans still wasn’t sure he would be able to return so soon.
“When I had it done, there was a little bit of doubt in my mind whether I’d be back or not. I wanted to be back and set that as the goal,” Herremans said. “My knee feels a lot smoother. It doesn’t catch anymore.”
Sheppard practiced for the second straight day on Friday and didn’t appear slowed by the healing MCL in his left knee, which he sprained Week 1 at Green Bay.
“He’s getting there,” Reid said. “He can’t quite open all the way, be he’s getting there. He’s close.”
“We’re making strides, and we haven’t had any setbacks, so that’s a good thing,” said Sheppard, who said it’s possible he could play. “Of course. It’s been getting better each day I’ve been practicing.”
Reid said that if activated, Sheppard would play a limited role.
“We’re trying to win, so it all depends on the situation,” Sheppard said. “If I’m needed to get out there, then I’m going to be out there. If not, then we’ll have that leeway to wait another week. We’re playing it by ear right now.”
There doesn’t appear a need to rush Sheppard back. The defense has performed well despite the absence of Sheppard and Dawkins. Regardless of whether Sheppard is activated, Will James likely will start his third straight game at cornerback with Sheldon Brown.
“We miss Lito. The thing about Lito is that he’s a playmaker,” Johnson said. "I think Will has done a good job. He’s a good press corner. We will be anxious to get Lito out there and get all three of them on the field.”
**********************************************
Chad Pennington has thrown five interceptions in his past two games, both Jets losses. So the cries for backup Kellen Clemens among Jets fans are becoming almost deafening.
But while Pennington obviously is in the worst slump of his career, the Jets' offensive problems run much deeper than his five interceptions in the last five quarters.
Consider that the Jets are 29th in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 77.0, and 31st in average per carry at 3.0. The Jets averaged 3.5 yards per carry last season, and that was without a proven featured back such as Thomas Jones.
Pennington's greatest strength is his ability to be a cerebral game manager, the kind of quarterback who won't make costly mistakes and will put his team in a position to win. But without a running game, there's not much to manage. And for that deficiency, the Jets' front office has to look itself in the mirror.
They believed that disgruntled left guard Pete Kendall was expendable, and chose not to renegotiate his deal, even though they later did the same thing under the radar for underpaid right guard Brandon Moore. Kendall's replacement, Adrien Clarke, hasn't been terrible, but he hasn't supplied the same stability Kendall did last season. In fact, the offensive line as a whole isn't run blocking as well as it did in 2006.
Jones is averaging 3.3 yards, his lowest average since he was a rookie with Arizona in 2000. Leon Washington is averaging 2.9 after having 4.3 per carry last year. And while some blame the lack of a vertical passing game from Pennington for the state of the rushing offense, keep in mind that Jones had 67 yards on 24 carries at Baltimore when Clemens played. And Jones has gotten 14 or fewer carries in three games, which isn't exactly a firm commitment to the running game.
For what it's worth ... that's the latest info.
Barring any unforeseen setbacks, four Eagles starters will return for Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Running back Brian Westbrook (ribs), tight end L.J. Smith (groin), tackle William Thomas (knee) and guard Todd Herremans (knee) all practiced on Friday and, according to coach Andy Reid, "should be ready to go."
Westbrook, Thomas and Herremans are listed as probable, while Smith and cornerback Lito Sheppard (knee) are questionable. Safety Brian Dawkins (neck) is out, and receiver Greg Lewis, who injured his ankle during Wednesday’s practice, is doubtful.
Dawkins has been sent to see a specialist. He suffered the stinger Week 3 against Washington.
“He’ll be back for next week’s practices,” Reid said. “It’s still bothering him, so we’re looking at different ways – people that we know and trust.”
Reid said the injury is not something that should be considered career threatening.
“Not at all. It’s not that kind of thing,” Reid said. “It’s not one where he’s worried about that. Nerves are crazy. We’re just going to get him taken care of and see how he does here as we get into next week.”
Quintin Mikell again will replace Dawkins at free safety.
"Quintin Mikell has done a great job," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said.
Westbrook and Thomas return after missing last Sunday’s loss to the Giants. Both were injured a week earlier in the win over Detroit. Westbrook practiced all week. Thomas did not practice Wednesday but did practice on Thursday and Friday.
“He feels pretty good right now,” Reid said. “It worked out well for him yesterday.”
Smith returns after having surgery to help his groin injury heal on Sept. 21. He played in the season’s first two games but was clearly slowed by the groin. On Sunday he will share playing time with Matt Schobel and Brent Celek.
“He feels a lot better now. He feels a little bit looser in that area,” Reid said. “I’m not going to ask him to play the whole game. He’ll get in, we’ll see how he feels and try to be smart with this.”
Herremans will play despite undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Oct. 2. After missing Wednesday’s practice and practicing briefly Thursday, he participated in the entire practice Friday.
“I kind of put in my head that I wanted to be back in time for the Jets game,” Herremans said. “It felt good today. It felt real good.”
Herremans, who hasn't missed a game this season, had a piece of cartilage removed that he said didn’t affect his mobility but was causing him discomfort.
“He’s a tough kid. What he’s done is unbelievable,” Reid said. “The thing that he was able to do was keep the swelling down. In that kind of situation, when you’re dealing with cartilage, you don’t have to go in there. You’re just cutting a piece of cartilage away – you’re not having to go in and repair something and sew it back together. So that helps, but that’s the kind of kid he is – very, very tough and determined.”
Although the surgery wasn’t considered major, Herremans still wasn’t sure he would be able to return so soon.
“When I had it done, there was a little bit of doubt in my mind whether I’d be back or not. I wanted to be back and set that as the goal,” Herremans said. “My knee feels a lot smoother. It doesn’t catch anymore.”
Sheppard practiced for the second straight day on Friday and didn’t appear slowed by the healing MCL in his left knee, which he sprained Week 1 at Green Bay.
“He’s getting there,” Reid said. “He can’t quite open all the way, be he’s getting there. He’s close.”
“We’re making strides, and we haven’t had any setbacks, so that’s a good thing,” said Sheppard, who said it’s possible he could play. “Of course. It’s been getting better each day I’ve been practicing.”
Reid said that if activated, Sheppard would play a limited role.
“We’re trying to win, so it all depends on the situation,” Sheppard said. “If I’m needed to get out there, then I’m going to be out there. If not, then we’ll have that leeway to wait another week. We’re playing it by ear right now.”
There doesn’t appear a need to rush Sheppard back. The defense has performed well despite the absence of Sheppard and Dawkins. Regardless of whether Sheppard is activated, Will James likely will start his third straight game at cornerback with Sheldon Brown.
“We miss Lito. The thing about Lito is that he’s a playmaker,” Johnson said. "I think Will has done a good job. He’s a good press corner. We will be anxious to get Lito out there and get all three of them on the field.”
**********************************************
Chad Pennington has thrown five interceptions in his past two games, both Jets losses. So the cries for backup Kellen Clemens among Jets fans are becoming almost deafening.
But while Pennington obviously is in the worst slump of his career, the Jets' offensive problems run much deeper than his five interceptions in the last five quarters.
Consider that the Jets are 29th in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 77.0, and 31st in average per carry at 3.0. The Jets averaged 3.5 yards per carry last season, and that was without a proven featured back such as Thomas Jones.
Pennington's greatest strength is his ability to be a cerebral game manager, the kind of quarterback who won't make costly mistakes and will put his team in a position to win. But without a running game, there's not much to manage. And for that deficiency, the Jets' front office has to look itself in the mirror.
They believed that disgruntled left guard Pete Kendall was expendable, and chose not to renegotiate his deal, even though they later did the same thing under the radar for underpaid right guard Brandon Moore. Kendall's replacement, Adrien Clarke, hasn't been terrible, but he hasn't supplied the same stability Kendall did last season. In fact, the offensive line as a whole isn't run blocking as well as it did in 2006.
Jones is averaging 3.3 yards, his lowest average since he was a rookie with Arizona in 2000. Leon Washington is averaging 2.9 after having 4.3 per carry last year. And while some blame the lack of a vertical passing game from Pennington for the state of the rushing offense, keep in mind that Jones had 67 yards on 24 carries at Baltimore when Clemens played. And Jones has gotten 14 or fewer carries in three games, which isn't exactly a firm commitment to the running game.
For what it's worth ... that's the latest info.
hno:
I hate the fuckin eagles.
I hate the god damn fuckin eagles.
But they will win tomorrow. They were handing out free money against the giants when westbrook did not start. Make no mistake , he is a big part of the team. A lot of people are saying that the line is off , i think it is right on the money. Other than the detroit game the eagles haven't showed anything this year, as a matter of fact they have been pathetic. They are in a good spot here and with a somewhat healthy team should be able to win this one.
I hate the god damn fuckin eagles.
But they will win tomorrow. They were handing out free money against the giants when westbrook did not start. Make no mistake , he is a big part of the team. A lot of people are saying that the line is off , i think it is right on the money. Other than the detroit game the eagles haven't showed anything this year, as a matter of fact they have been pathetic. They are in a good spot here and with a somewhat healthy team should be able to win this one.
