If the Eagles are going to salvage their slim playoff hopes, they likely will have to rely on backup quarterback Vince Young.
All signs point to Michael Vick missing Sunday’s game because of the fractured ribs he sustained in last week’s loss to the Cardinals.Vick missed his third straight practice Friday and refrained from throwing on the sideline. Although coach Andy Reid didn’t rule out the quarterback, a report from the Wilmington News Journal of Delaware said Vick will not play.
“I’m really just taking it day by day and seeing how he does,” said Reid, who had Vick listed as questionable. “He made improvement from yesterday so I’m going to see how far he goes into tomorrow. We just rested him, we haven’t done anything. He hasn’t thrown, he hasn’t done anything. He’s come to all the meetings and done the brain work, but I just want him resting that thing. I’m not worried about him being in shape or anything else. We’ll just see if it calms down a little bit.”
If Vick doesn’t play, Young, the originator of the Eagles’ “Dream Team” moniker, is the expected replacement after taking all the snaps with the first team, Reid said.
Young hasn’t started in about a year after he was released by the Titans following a fallout with coach Jeff Fisher.
Still, Young said he’s not out to prove anything.
“It’s not about me. It’s just all about going out there and playing the game and always staying ready,” said Young, who added that the Eagles brought him to Philadelphia for days like this, Definitely, that’ s one of the things why they did bring me in here is always staying ready “to come in and lead the guys and keep the same tempo that Mike Vick has and things like that. So overall, I feel pretty good, but like I said, it’s not about me.”
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is also expected to miss the game with shoulder and hamstring injuries, presumably leaving DeSean Jackson — who was suspended last game because he missed a team meeting — with a heavier workload.
“We’re just trying to keep it simplest for (Young) and try not to put too much pressure on him, but he’s a good quarterback and we’re familiar with the game he played against the Giants last year where he was able to beat them,” Jackson said. “So we just really need him to go out there and give us a chance to win.”
