Vick, McCoy, Patterson And More Out For Eagles vs Tampa Bay
By Kevin McGuire
Offensive starters Mike Vick and LeSean McCoy are once again out for the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend when the team flies south to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Vick and McCoy, along with safety Kurt Coleman, were expected to miss Sunday’s game anyway, but the team also added defensive tackle Mike Patterson to the list of players to be out Sunday after being treated for a case of viral pneumonia.
According to Eagles athletic trainer Rick Burkholder, Patterson came in to practice Thursday feeling sick and he was admitted to the hospital.
Vick has essentially already been shelved for the remainder of the season, with head coach Andy Reid naming rookie Nick Foles as the starting quarterback for the rest of the regular season, and Bryce Brown will see more playing time out of the backfield in place of the injured McCoy. Brown has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last two games but will look to hold on to the football better against one of the top rush defenses in the NFL. Running back Chris Polk is listed as questionable for this weekend after participating in a pair of limited practices this week with a toe injury.
Taking Coleman’s starting place in the defensive backfield will be Colt Anderson, who Reid believes is making progress after missing the start of the season to a torn ACL.
"I thought after he got through about four games he was feeling better (and) moving around better,” Reid said of Anderson’s progress. “We put him in there early (during the season) in the secondary when we had an injury. It probably wasn’t fair to him but you could see him improve. Through special teams you could see him improve in his speed, in his trust (in his knee), and all those things when you’re coming off of an injury you see. I think he’s back now and feels good."
Anderson had been playing more of a role on special teams as the team worked him back in to the mix, but now his role will be increased against a Tampa Bay team that has been throwing the football very well at home this season. Josh Freeman has completed 61.9 percent of his passes this season in home games for 1,651 yards, 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
In addition, reserve offensive tackle Nate Menkin is also being treated for a minor throat cartilage tear, which will leave him out of the game. Reid does not believe the injury will be significant but sitting him out this week was the best way to go.
Eagles listed as probable include cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who is working through a knee injury but took part in full practices on Thursday and Friday. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks (shoulder) was in full practices this week and is probable, as well as defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, safety Nate Allen and center Dallas Reynolds and fullback Stanley Havilli on offense.
Probable
Safety Nate Allen (shoulder)
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (tailbone)
Fullback Stanley Havili (ankle)
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks (shoulder)
Center Dallas Reynolds (ankle)
Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee)
Questionable
Running back Chris Polk (toe)
Out
Free safety Kurt Coleman (chest)
Running back LeSean McCoy (concussion)
Tackle/Guard Nate Menkin (throat)
Defensive tackle Mike Patterson (illness)
Quarterback Michael Vick (concussion)
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Kevin McGuire covers college football for Examiner.com and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation. Follow him on Twitter (@KevinOnCFB). His work can be found on Examiner.com.
