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Westbrook practices, expects to play Sunday vs. Cowboys
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PHILADELPHIA - Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is hoping the only stars he sees on Sunday night are the ones above Lincoln Financial Field.
The lingering effects of the concussion he suffered two weeks ago have cleared. The veteran practiced on Wednesday and expects to be in the lineup for the Eagles' NFC East showdown with Dallas.
If he does play, he will do so with his trademark aggressiveness. Westbrook acknowledged Wednesday that he can't be at his best if he's worried about getting hurt again.
"I'm going to go out and play with reckless abandon, just like always," he said. "I'm concerned about the long-term effects (of a concussion), but when you go out there to play football, you have to play worry-free."
Westbrook was hurt in the first quarter of the Eagles' 27-17 victory over Washington on Oct. 26. He plunged into the middle of the line and was diving forward for extra yardage when Redskins linebacker London Fletcher inadvertently kneed him in the back of the neck.
Westbrook was briefly knocked unconscious and remained motionless on the ground for several minutes. Players and coaches from both teams gathered around him, including his brother, Redskins cornerback Byron Westbrook. He finally left the field under his own power.
"It was a freak thing," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. "The two shortest guys on the field (Westbrook and Fletcher are both listed at 5-foot-10) ran into each other."
Under the guidance of Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder, Westbrook underwent a series of tests over the next week to gauge the severity of his concussion and his recovery. He still had a slight headache as of last Saturday, which led to him missing the Eagles' 40-17 victory over the New York Giants.
Once the headache went away, Westbrook engaged in some aerobic exercises on Sunday and Monday without a problem and was cleared to start practicing again Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, he'll be trying to help the Eagles (5-2) take sole possession of first place in the NFC East against the Cowboys (5-2).
"I feel pretty good," Westbrook said. "My memory has returned, though it didn't really go away. And the headache is gone."
Westbrook usually plays well against the Cowboys. In 14 games, he has rushed for 734 yards and seven touchdowns on 178 carries (4.1 yards per carry) and caught 63 passes for 517 yards and two TDs. His only career touchdown pass, a 25-yarder to wide receiver Todd Pinkston in 2002, was also against Dallas.
The Eagles' versatile offense poses a number of problems for the Cowboys - quarterback Donovan McNabb has a plethora of available receivers - but Westbrook is still the player they worry about containing.
"Brian Westbrook is the guy you have to stop in the running and the passing game," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday in a phone interview. "He can change the game in one play as a runner or as a receiver. That's why he's so dangerous."
However, it's been a while since Westbrook changed a game. His last significant play was in last season's playoff game at Minnesota, when he turned a screen pass into a 71-yard touchdown in a 26-14 Eagles' victory.
Otherwise, he's been hampered with injuries. He underwent a pair of offseason surgeries to clean out his left knee and left ankle. He sat out the Eagles' 34-14 win over Kansas City earlier this season with a sprained ankle.
"It's been tough and it's been frustrating," Westbrook said. "But I'm going to stay positive. I'm going to stay excited about the game.
"My team is enjoying this time because they are playing so well and I want to enjoy it with them. We've come a long way from where we started (this season) and I want to be able to enjoy the good times. I'm excited about having the opportunity to play again."
Contact David Weinberg:
609-272-7186
Posted in Sports, Eagles, Breaking_news on Thursday, November 5, 2009 1:25 am Updated: 2:30 am.
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