As we progress through the middle of the week and closer to the Eagles’ next regular season game, against the New York Giants, there are a few notable injuries to take a look at. As scheduled, Philadelphia held a practice session at the NovaCare Complex this afternoon, and among those players absent from activities were two offensive starters–RB Brian Westbrook and WR DeSean Jackson, as well as a listed starter but reserve of late in WR Kevin Curtis.

Of course, not many expected Westbrook(pictured) to practice, as he was still feeling a bit shaky following a scary concussion he suffered early in the Week 7 Washington game, and was still planning to undergo further tests and medical evaluations. Head coach Andy Reid continues to state his optimism of the veteran runner’s injury, and still counts on him being on the field versus the Giants in Week 8, but until Westbrook shows some clear improvement, nothing can be expected regarding his game status. Team trainer and health specialist Rick Burkholder spoke after practice about Westbrook and his concussion:

“We look at his symptoms as he goes along here over the next couple of days. We look obviously at headache, his fatigue factor, how he’s responding in meetings, whether watching film or studying the playbook affects him, whether he’s irritable, whether he’s nervous, whether he appears to be depressed, that kind of thing. I’m talking to Brian all day. Every time that he comes out of a meeting and takes a break, I talk to him. [Eagles assistant athletic trainer] Chris Peduzzi talks to him. Dr. Dorshimer calls me to check on him. We’ve already spoken twice today about it. This is a constant, ongoing thing with him.

“We’ll look at his symptoms and once his headache clears, because that’s his big symptom because he has a very mild headache, mild to me is okay but he still has a headache. When that clears, the next step is you take him through an exercise program so you get his heart rate up. Does that make his symptoms worse? If it doesn’t make his symptoms worse, then you go to the next step, which is you start to do some football-type drills where you get balance and footwork and change in direction. If that goes well, then you return him to practice. Then, if that goes well you return him to a game. The question has been asked to me, ‘Have you had anyone knocked unconscious here and then play the next week?’ Yes. I’ve had guys not knocked unconscious here and not play the next week because the grading scale to us doesn’t matter. It’s all symptoms and it’s how do they return from their symptoms [and] when they do, can they take the next challenge? Can they take the next challenge? Can they take the next challenge? Where are we game-time wise? And that’s exactly what we’ll do with Brian.”

Jackson, who was awarded the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor following his phenomenal Week 7 performance, is tending to a sprained ankle. Official word on how and when the injury occurred hasn’t been released, but many are speculating that the 2nd-year receiver was hurt on his 57-yard TD catch in which he had to slow down and alter his route because of the defenders’ positions and the angle of QB Donovan McNabb’s throw. Despite his absence from today’s practice, there isn’t much concern regarding whether he will play against the Giants, and it is expected Jackson will be able to participate in full during the weekend practices, if not by the end of the week.

Curtis has already been ruled out of Sunday’s game, and therefore wasn’t a participant in the practice routines this afternoon. He continues to rehabilitate from knee surgery he underwent last week to clear up pain from a sprain he suffered early in the season. He has already been held out of four contests, and it isn’t clear whether the typical-number 2 WR will even return at all this year. Rookie target Jeremy Maclin will continue to man the starting role opposite DeSean Jackson in place of Curtis.

Other players that missed today’s practice with injuries were: DE Victor Abiamiri (sprained knee), FS Macho Harris (sprained ankle), DE Darren Howard (strained calf muscle/twisted ankle), and CB Dimitri Patterson (strained quad muscle). All of these players but Abiamiri (who is having trouble keeping his knee healthy) are expected to play this weekend, which is good news atop the somewhat disappointing reports that led off the article.