In spite of Michael Vick's hamstring improving this week Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has yet to name a starter for Sunday's game against the Giants. Photo Courtesy: TimesUnion.com
In what has become a weekly tradition at the Novacare Complex, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly evaded questions about the status of his quarterbacks and who will start on Sunday against the New York Giants.
"I know Mike [Vick] is cleared to practice today," Kelly pointed out. "But I don't know if he'll be ready to go Sunday."
And so the three-week quarterback watch that commenced when Vick pulled his hamstring against the Giants at MetLife Stadium continues.
In all likelihood Vick will return to the starting lineup this week as he has made it clear in recent days that he is improving. It is also unlikely that Kelly would turn to rookie Matt Barkley in a division game to make his first career NFL start unless the first-year head coach finds himself in a desperate situation where neither Vick nor Nick Foles is healthy enough to go.
According to Kelly Foles returned to the team Thursday and spent time working out with the training staff but because he has yet to take his imPACT test, or be cleared to return. Foles will not practice today which makes it a longer shot that he would be healthy enough to play by the time kickoff rolls around Sunday.
Vick though has only completed one healthy season in his 12-year career and the team is now likely one misstep from the 34-year old away from turning to the rookie out of USC.
"We evened up the reps this week," Kelly said Thursday. "It's the same for our first and second team."
It's obvious that the coaching staff is preparing for any contingency in advance of the Eagles fourth division game of the season.
In spite of the Eagles injury concerns at quarterback the team is relatively healthy overall. On Thursday only linebacker Jacob Knott and Foles missed practice.
Seven weeks into the meatgrinder that is the NFL schedule, it's rare to see a team this healthy this late in the year. At least part of the credit must go to Kelly's innovations in the area of sports science that has limited the injuries since training camp.
Matt Lombardo is the Editor-In-Chief of Eagledelphia and also an on-air personality on 97.5 FM The Fanatic in Philadelphia. Join the conversation and follow Matt on Twitter.
