Eagles quarterback Michael Vick avoided broken ribs on Monday, but reminded the Eagles of the constant injury risk that comes with his style of play.
According to wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Vick knows that he needs to try something different in order to stay on the field. Jackson recounted his halftime conversation with Vick during an interview on ESPN in the second half of the game against the Patriots.
“He’s sore and bruised up a little bit,” Jackson said. “He’s just like, ‘Man, I can’t keep taking hits like that.’”
Doing so will take a fundamental change to the way he plays. Vick got hurt on Monday night because he tried to make a play when the more prudent thing to do would have been to throw the ball away. The throw was a heave downfield as well, a ball that could wind up being intercepted, and that only adds to the reasons why Vick would have been wise to make another choice.
If there’s a silver lining to the injury for the Eagles, it’s that Nick Foles got extended playing time and looked good in both halves. He went 18-of-28 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and hooked up with Jackson on a 40-yard play to set up one of two Clay Harbor touchdowns. Foles got a chance to play with the Eagles starters that he wouldn’t have otherwise received this preseason and it’s probably a safe bet he’ll get more after Vick went down on Monday night.
That will give Foles his first chance to face a starting defense, something that should help could cement him into the backup role that looked to be Mike Kafka’s when the preseason began.