Friday, November 16, 2012

Vick out, Foles in as Birds face Redskins

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Magazine 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will not play Sunday against the NFC East rival Washington Redskins as he continues to recover from a concussion, meaning rookie Nick Foles will make his first NFL start at FedEx Field.

Eagles  head coach Andy Reid made  it official on Friday, declaring Vick out. The  veteran signal-caller  is still  dealing with  the effects  of what  Reid earlier  this week  called a "pretty significant" concussion, which forced him out of last Sunday's 38-23 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Trainer Rick Burkholder said Vick is still bothered by headaches, lethargy and lack  of  sleep, in addition to  earlier reports of sensitivity to light. Vick took  an  "impact test" on  Friday and performed  below his baseline, and will have another one on Monday.

Foles  took over  for Vick last week  and threw for 219 yards while completing 22-of-32  passes with  a touchdown.  He also  threw an  interception that  was returned for a touchdown and lost a fumble that was recovered by Dallas in the end  zone for  another score, as the  Eagles lost their fifth straight game to
fall to 3-6.

It marked the first time in Reid's tenure that the club has lost as many in a row, and first since a 5-game slide under Ray Rhodes which came at the outset (September 6-October 4) of a 3-13 season in 1998. Philadelphia has not lost as many as six straight since a 7-game slide to end the 1994 campaign.

The 23-year-old Foles threw for 4,334 yards on 387-of-560 completions for 28 touchdowns and 14 picks during his senior season in Tucson.

Also listed as out are wide receivers Jason Avant and Mardy Gilyard, both with hamstring issues. Guard Danny Watkins is questionable with a troublesome ankle injury.

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