Posted on 09/13/2005 3:15:21 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
McNabb has chest bruise, status to be determined By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com
A battery of tests performed on Tuesday morning confirmed Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a bruised chest in the Monday night loss at Atlanta, and the availability of the Eagles' star for this week likely will be determined by how he responds in the next few days.
Coach Andy Reid said McNabb had undergone an MRI, CT scan and X-rays and that all of the tests indicated the bruised chest. There may be further tests in coming days. The Eagles play San Francisco on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
"We knew he was hurting," Reid said of McNabb. "It wasn't nearly as bad last night as it was this morning. Obviously, it tightened up on him. But he felt comfortable playing. He never said a word about it."
Reid said that, in cases of chest injuries, the Eagles take "extra precautions" in evaluating the injury and doing follow-up testing. League rules stipulate that the Eagles don't have to officially update McNabb's injury status until Wednesday.
McNabb was injured on the Eagles' first possession of the game on a play in which he was hit on his left side by Falcons defensive end Brady Smith and in his chest by tackle Chad Lavalais. His deep pass up the left sideline, intended for Terrell Owens, clearly was affected by the impact, and was intercepted by D'Angelo Hall.
When he went to the sideline, McNabb removed his pads, did some stretching and was examined by the team's medical staff. He returned on the next series.
Under heavy pressure all evening, as the Falcons generally played an eight-man front and blitzed him liberally, McNabb absorbed a fierce beating. He completed 24 of 45 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown, but had three turnovers and registered just one run rush, for no yards.
Reid acknowledged there was far too much pressure on McNabb and allowed that the injury may have played a role in the quarterback's seeming reluctance to run.
"He was in a little bit of pain," Reid said. "I don't know if that had any affect on his decisions to run or not run. It didn't look like there was a lot of room to run, [but] the injury might have affected it."
He had a decent game but not the kind of one the Eagles need him to have.
I agree that it was not a spectacular game for Owens and he might even be going at 75% but if he had the same numbers every game this season, he would have over 100 catches for almost 1700 yards. He was also only about 20 yards short of having the 2nd most productive receiving game by any player.
You are 100% correct with your observation that against the top teams, Owens will have to have monumental numbers for the Eagles to win - unless another receiver really steps up.
I do feel that Owens will play half-hearted at times - especially in situations that put his body at risk or at crucial moments. I like the guy, but unless Owens really made up with McNabb and Reid, he will find a way to keep a DB close in crucial situations and make McNabb scramble for his life.
One of Philly's problems is that their ground game still isn't as good as it needs to be.
<<< The Eagles dropped their first two games in 2003 and they still wound up winning the division. >>>
In 1993, Dallas dropped their first two games and wound up winning Super Bowl 28!!!!!
The Emmitt Smith holdout. I remember it well. They lost at Washington on a Monday night and then they lost at home to the Bills. That's when Jerry Jones opened up his wallet.
My Pats started out 1-3 in their SB season of 2001.
<<< and then they lost at home to the Bills. >>>
I know. I was there. Not a good day a Texas Stadium.
It wouldn't have been as bad if not for the fact that the 'Boys had humiliated them the previous January.
I'll trade a regular season loss for a Super Bowl win anyday. Besides, that loss was sandwiched between back to back Super Bowl wins. Also, if Buffalo had wanted to keep the score down, they would have put up a better fight.
Don Beebe did all he could.
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