PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick, who missed the last three games with cartilage damage in his rib cage, is expected back and will start against the Colts on Nov. 7, Eagles coach Andy Reid said on Monday.
In fact, Reid expects the Eagles to be as healthy as they possibly can be when they return from the bye week.
“I’m feeling better. I think I’ll be fine,” Vick said after Sunday’s 37-19 loss to Tennessee, in which he was the designated third quarterback, but watched the game from the sidelines.
Kevin Kolb filled in for Vick and went 2-1, beating San Francisco and Atlanta before the loss to the Titans.
“From the penalty he got Sunday, he’s not afraid of contact,” Reid said half-jokingly about Vick, who was called for getting in the way of a referee on the sideline during a return in Sunday’s loss. “He’s improving. He’s getting healthier. I’m thinking he’ll be ready for the Colts. If he isn’t, I have faith in Kevin Kolb. The entire team has faith in Kevin. But it looks like (Vick) is on track to return.”
Vick injured the rib area in the first quarter of a loss to Washington on Oct. 3. Before the injury, Vick engineered two wins in two starts, both on the road. For the year, he is 59-of-96 for 799 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. He has a quarterback rating of 108.8. He’s also run the ball 26 times for 187 yards and a touchdown. It was on a run that he suffered the injury when he was sandwiched by two Washington defenders.
“I have to be a little more careful there, and I will be,” Vick said. “I’m not going to be as reckless as I was on that play.”
Also expected to return are wide receiver DeSean Jackson (concussion), left tackle Jason Peters (knee) and defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley (elbow). All three missed Sunday’s loss to Tennessee.
Jackson has not cleared the concussion tests, but Reid feels he will by the time the Eagles return to work next week.
In five games, Jackson has 19 catches for 395 yards, with an average of 20.8 yards per catch and three touchdowns. He’s also carried the ball six times for 67 yards, including a 31-yard score on an end around.
Peters, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean out some meniscus damage, should be ready to start. He may have to since his replacement, King Dunlap, suffered a hyper-extended knee in Sunday’s loss.
“If you talk to Jason and you talk to doctors, yes, he’ll be ready to go,” Reid said. “But, we’ll just see.”
Reid added if Peters could not play, left guard Todd Herremans would move outside to tackle.
Bunkley, whose elbow injury originally appeared to be season-ending, will be eased back, especially with his replacement, Antonio Dixon, playing well in his place.
“Bunk won’t be 100 percent,” Reid said. “So, Dixon is going to be out there a lot. We’ll spoonfeed (Bunkley) in there.”
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