Eagles finally getting healthy
by JasonB on Oct 21, 2008 10:08 AM EDT
in Philadelphia Eagles News
Email
Print
This weekend, for the first time this year, it's likely that Eagles fans will see Brian Westbrook, Kevin Curtis, and Reggie Brown all take the field. Curtis has missed all 6 games so far with a sports hernia injury he picked up preseason, Reggie Brown has missed most of the year with hamstring and groin injuries, and Westbrook has been sidelined with ankle and rib injuries.
Those three players accounted for over 72% of the Eagles offense last year... Suffice to say, their return will be welcomed.
"I'm just trying to get back into the flow of things," Westbrook said. "I've been off two-and-a-half weeks. I'm able to practice. I'm able to do some things. It's getting better. No, there's not so much soreness. No question, the week off made a big difference, and now hopefully I can stay healthy for the rest of the season."
"I feel good. I'm real confident in it," said Curtis, who underwent abdominal surgery Aug. 21. He traveled with the team to its final game before the bye, Oct. 12 at San Francisco, but was not activated. The Eagles were without Westbrook, Brown or Curtis that day, but banged out a 40-26 victory, on the strength of 23 fourth-quarter points, the final 13 provided by three 49ers turnovers.
"They kind of told me they'd try not to use me," Curtis said. "They told me to be ready, and I was ready, if my number was called, but I think the idea was to wait until after the bye week . . . It was good to just go on the trip. I was able to run around and prepare as if I was going to play. I think that's going to help me this week.
"Obviously, you can't substitute playing in a game situation . . . I've been working hard, I've been rehabbing, and I've been doing everything I can do to prepare myself as close as I can for that game situation."
"It's really frustrating. I'm kind of getting sick of it," the fourth-year wideout said. "It's hard seeing your guys going out there and fighting hard to win a game and keep this season going on the right path, and you're not able to go out there and help them.
"I'm just trying top figure out a way to keep my muscles right and keep them healthy," he went on. "Hopefully this won't be a trend."
It appears that the team is finally getting healthy. The interesting thing to watch now is first whether they can stay healthy and second whether all these returning players can gel into one potent unit.
One thing we'll certainly be keeping an eye on this week is how the return of both Curtis and Brown affects Desean Jackson's role in the offense... Does he lose his starting spot? My guess is no.
23 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
here’s hoping for a Curtis/Jackson starting combo…
"When you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you're getting your ass hammered by guys - there's no better feeling than to have that done." - Matt Stairs 10/13/08
Gold... Pure Gold...
fourth… but you would think that it would make more sense to have reggie brown in there with jackson because curtis and jackson are both quick/small receivers while reggie is 6’1…
http://www.libertyballers.com
i like that combo too
i just hope that Jason is right with his guess that jackson won´t lose his starting spot!
i think that djax will be our best receiver for years to come! the talent is there… as we all know!
go eagles
I don’t think it matters much who starts. Particularly since they go three wide so often, one back so often (it’s not like we have a fullback). DJax will still be a part of the game plan, even if he doesn’t play the first offensive snap.
by Black Market Index on Oct 21, 2008 1:43 PM EDT reply actions
he wasn’t exactly part of the game plan against the Bears and Redskins… and that was without both Curtis and Brown back… and we played plenty of 3 WR sets those two games and I remember seeing shots of Jackson standing next to Andy while we were doing so.
So if he’s getting bumped out of the game for Baskett, Avant, and Greg Lewis, I think I have reason to worry that he may see reduced playing time now that Curtis and Brown are back
"When you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you're getting your ass hammered by guys - there's no better feeling than to have that done." - Matt Stairs 10/13/08
Gold... Pure Gold...
+1
Andy’s tendency to have no faith in rookies could mean limited reps for the young guy regardless of success which I think I can speak for everyone when I say is … “BULLSHIT”
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
i know i’m going to say this and it’ll be taken the wrong way, but… if Brown’s hammy continues to be a problem causing him to shut it down for the season, we’d probably be in a better position because it would force Andy to play Jackson more… just sayin
"When you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you're getting your ass hammered by guys - there's no better feeling than to have that done." - Matt Stairs 10/13/08
Gold... Pure Gold...
DeSean and Curtis
Knowing Andy’s disdain for rookies, and especially cocky ones, Curtis’s play time will eat up Jackson’s. They are both used similarly in the offense because they are both small quick receivers. Don’t be suprised to see more Baskett than Jackson this week. Baskett might not be all that good, but his size is unique amongst this receiving corps (although I loved seeing that fade against the Niners). I just hope that McNabb and Curtis have nailed their timing down in practice because Andy will, for better or worse, play Curtis over Jackson all afternoon. All I can see going to Jackson are a couple reverses and a few throws but I am hoping for much more.
as a side note, in the picture Curtis looks like one hungry mofo and an Andy Reid sized cheesesteak is running the other way
"When you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you're getting your ass hammered by guys - there's no better feeling than to have that done." - Matt Stairs 10/13/08
Gold... Pure Gold...
they said earlier in the season that brown plays in the spot more suited for jackson because that spot plays off the line. It is the spot that stinkston played. curtis plays in the spot TO played in. I know that brown may be bigger than curtis, but i think curtis is the stronger of the two. The faster of the two as well. I would much rather see jackson in browns spot with curtis. I think that they could be a formidable pair. Run avant in the slot and run hank in situations that you could use his size to an advantage. I don’t think that brown is a bad receiver, but he may just be odd man out on this squad. If jackson continues to flourish this year, you may not see brown on the roster next year. You know they’re not going to cut g lew, andy loves g lew.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
