It's Friday, which means the Eagles must release their official injury report and there's some real news.
First, TE LJ Smith has been ruled out of Sunday's game. He had surgery this morning to clean out scar tissue from around his previously repaired groin. The procedure was done to alleviate pain that Smith was feeling in the are. It's unclear when he'll be able to return, but Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder said that the good news is that nothing had to be fixed. So aside from some swelling and tenderness around the area nothing needs to heal.
Brian Westbrook practiced and will start Sunday. That's huge.
Andy said that Lito Sheppard is "a longshot" to play this weekend despite that fact that he was able to do some conditioning work this week.
Brian Dawkins did not practice at all this week and will be a gametime decision.
Certainly the prospect of facing the Lions' formidable stable of receivers without 2 pro bowlers in the secondary is a scary one.
Finally, McNabb practiced without the knee brace this week and may not wear it on Sunday. This could be significant, since before Monday night's game ESPN said that he didn't really need to wear the brace and that the Eagles would prefer him not to. It's possible that the brace could have been affecting his play.