Brian Westbrook may finally be ready to return to the field.
Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid said Monday that Westbrook, the running back who has missed seven of the last eight games with concussions, should be able to play Sunday against the Broncos.
“Right now, it looks pretty good,” Reid told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Westbrook has suffered two concussions this season, one on October 26 against the Redskins and one on November 15 against the Chargers. Both Reid and Westbrook have acknowledged concerns about the long-term health implications of Westbrook’s concussions, but Reid now says he thinks Westbrook is getting close to being ready.
“Just watching the last couple of weeks here out at practice, the next step, if all goes well here in the next couple of days, is to get him back in the game and see what he can do there,” Reid said.
The Eagles have actually had a better record and better offensive output without Westbrook than with him, but Reid dismissed any concerns that Westbrook might not fit into what the Eagles are doing offensively, saying, “We’re not going to get worse with Brian Westbrook coming back.”
Even if he can’t hit the hole like he used to, he’s still worth having around for his soft hands. For a team that relies on the screen so much, McNabb’s strong point isn’t exactly short passes. Westbrook can bring almost anything thrown towards him down.
“Just watching the last couple of weeks here out at practice, the next step, if all goes well here in the next couple of days, is to get him back in the game and see what he can do there,” Reid said, as he shoveled mouthful after mouthful of rich, fatty food into his gaping, cavernous walrus-maw.
I sure hope Brian Dawkins doesn’t give Westbrook his final concussion
“We’re not going to get worse with Brian Westbrook coming back.”
Actually, they will. McNabb relies on Westbrook too much when he’s in there. With Westbrook out he’s forced to spread the ball around.
Save him for Dallas and then use him sparingly. The Cowboys have been embarassed enough by 36 in the past that the mere threat of him playing is probably the best contribution he can make at this point. Personally, I think he’ll be back to form before he fades for good, but it’s a bit soon.
.VoxVeritas says:
December 22, 2009 8:21 AM
Actually, they will. McNabb relies on Westbrook too much when he’s in there. With Westbrook out he’s forced to spread the ball around.
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I didn’t know stupidity showed up on this site before 9:00AM.
I just hope he avoids another bell ringer. He hasn’t been totally cleared yet either, so this may be just a distraction for Denver with their game planning.
Chuck Norris once played the Eagles and won 75 to negative 15.
this is a joke, its all about Dawkins stealing the show this weekend.
The eagle dont care about westbrooks health, only about not getting shown up by Dawkins.
I cant wait to see Dawkins pick off Mcnabb and return it for a td and have the place go nuts, it would ruin mcnabb to have his own fans cheer AGAINST him…
hahah, cant wait!
@mike_311
Uhhh, I think your grasp on the situation is a little bit, how should I say it, retarded. Fans are going to give Dawkins a standing ovation for his return, but no fans will be hoping that B-Dawk takes part in a pick 6. And your assessment of the Eagles not caring about Westbrook’s health? Child, please!
I don’t even know why I responded to this. It’s as though I’m trying to explain the way the world works to a toddler.
mike_311
keep your adolescent fantasies contained to New Jersey, please. Oh, and congratulations on beating the Redskins! It’ll add a distinctly fecal aroma to the plate of almost-made-it the Giants are about to serve their fans.
mike_311:
it is so obvious you know nothing about football and your team sucks. you must still live at home in you moms basement playing madden all day to learn your football knowledge……
while dawkins was a great player as you can see in denver and the reason the eagles let him go is his pass coverage skills have since declined. i think the eagles go after him. i think in the past mcnabb did rely on westbrook too much now he has other weapons so the d cant concentrate on westbrook only. i think westbrook retires after this year anyway.
who is retard mike_311′s team anyway that he spends so much time on the eagles blogs… they must suck to be able to spend so much tme talking about us.
They mystical creature, Vox, returns after a Cowboys’ win…… hey Vox, I saw that there are a few more kickers looking for work, maybe your Cowboys should go sign them?!?
As for DNabb relying on Westy too much: is this your lame attempt at reverse psychology?
Mike_311: simply dumbfounded by your remark. ignorant is no way to go through life….
“The Cowboys have been embarassed enough by 36 in the past that the mere threat of him playing is probably the best contribution he can make at this point.”
Do you guys ever put the drugs down? His last eight games against the Cowboys:
18 for 58
13 for 50
18 for 81
16 for 65
26 for 122
11 for 33
16 for 86
6 for 12
That 26 for 122 game is the only 100 yard game he’s had against the Cowboys in his entire career. Though there was that 14 catch effort in a blowout loss to them in ’07 (in Philly).
bitter giants fan feeling pretty frisky following a blowout of a pop warner team, eh?
eagles fans love dawk, we really do, but when it comes down to it, we’ll never ever ever EVER cheer against the eagles. dawk will get a nice round of applause when he walks onto the field, and past that, we’re 100% eagles. if you think we’re gonna be cheering against them, think again.
oh, and have fun watching us in january (and february) while your team is busy walking around clubs in manhattan with guns in their sweatpants. maybe you can watch the knicks or rangers lose instead of watching the giants lose. the good news is we won’t have to knock you guys out of the playoffs again this year, i guess.
“As for DNabb relying on Westy too much: is this your lame attempt at reverse psychology?”
Just a statement of fact, Opie. The Eagirls are a better team with Westbrook out of the lineup. Sorry, but facts are facts. Your Eagirls are 3-3 with Westbrook playing this season. 7-1 without him with the only loss being to the Cowboys. Defenses key on him when he’s in there because he always seems to be McNabb’s first read when he’s on the field. Am I to believe that Jackson, Maclin etc just can’t get open when Westy’s playing? I don’t expect Eagirls fans to understand, but your lack of understanding of the concept of addition by subtraction does not change the fact that the Eagirls are a much more successful team when he doesn’t play. It is what it is. And you shouldn’t take this as an indictment of Westbrook. I don’t think it’s on him at all.
Hey Vox you mental midget. How about giving the complete stats. Everyone knows West was (hopefully is) awesome because of yards from scrimmage not yards from carries. I am not going to waste time looking it up but for example the “18 for 58″ you forgot to mention the 6 receptions for 45 and 3 total TDs. Yeah, real crappy game.
Game, set and match to qweezyq. I was thinking the same thing.
What a team of wussy’s if it aint Mcflab its westbrook. they both have missed 1/2 there games since they have been in the nfl. we found out what a wus Mcflab was when T.O. DARED HIM TO STAND-UP in the locker room and mcflab didn’t move a muscle.LOL