Eagles' Westbrook Played Against Redskins With Two Broken Ribs

From News Services
Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook's status for next week's game is undecided after he played most of Sunday's game against the Redskins with two broken ribs.

Coach Andy Reid announced the injury to Westbrook, who rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries after starting the game with an ankle injury, at a news conference yesterday.

"Do I want to be out there at 45 percent and not wanting to take a hit and hurting this team more than I'm helping it?" Westbrook asked on his radio show in Philadelphia. "No, I wouldn't want to set the team back like that."

The DeMatha graduate, who also had six catches for 51 yards, ran for a nine-yard score midway through the first quarter of Philadelphia's 23-17 home loss to the Redskins, then went to the sideline for treatment on the ribs.

He said after the game he thought the ribs were bruised and expected to have them examined yesterday after playing the remainder of the game without additional padding.

· JETS: S Eric Smith appealed his one-game suspension and $50,000 fine by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit last week on Arizona WR Anquan Boldin.

The league suspended Smith last Monday for committing a flagrant violation of player safety rules in New York's 56-35 win Sept. 28. In a statement, the NFL said Boldin was in a defenseless position when contact was made.

If the suspension is upheld, Smith would have to sit out the Jets' game Sunday against the Bengals.

· GIANTS: An unapologetic Plaxico Burress rejoined the team, noting he didn't lose any sleep after the Super Bowl champions suspended him for a game.

Burress missed a team meeting two weeks ago without bothering to telephone the Giants.

The wide receiver who caught the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl attributed his absence on Sept. 22 to a family emergency, which he described as having to take his son to school.

· RAVENS: Baltimore NG Kelly Gregg will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee today.

Gregg has not played this season because of the troublesome knee. His agent, Jack Bechta, said the knee was not responding to treatment, and that the operation will probably sideline the veteran defensive lineman until May or June.

· PACKERS: QB Aaron Rodgers will miss practice time again this week but is expected to play in Seattle on Sunday. Green Bay Coach Mike McCarthy said he plans to have Rodgers on the field against the Seahawks despite the sprained right shoulder that nearly sidelined him for the 27-24 loss to Atlanta.

· SAINTS: The team released QB Joey Harrington to make room on the roster for DT Remi Ayodele. Harrington has been signed and released twice this season.

· VIKINGS: LB E.J. Henderson (Maryland) will miss the rest of the season after being placed on injured reserve because of dislocated toes on his left foot.

· RAMS: TE Randy McMichael will miss the rest of the season with a broken right leg. McMichael broke his tibia and tore a ligament in his leg in the Rams' 31-14 loss to Buffalo on Sept. 28. Yesterday, the team put him on injured reserve, ending his 2008 season.

· BILLS: QB Trent Edwards was described as alert but still experiencing post-concussion symptoms, leaving his status uncertain as the team enters its bye week.

· CHIEFS: QB Brodie Croyle is back after a four-week absence with a separated shoulder and will start for Kansas City in its next game against Tennessee on Oct. 19.