By Jonathan Tamari
Inquirer Staff Writer
Brodrick Bunkley, the defensive tackle who started every game for the Eagles for the last two years, may be out for the season after suffering a ligament injury in his left elbow, coach Andy Reid said Monday.
Bunkley will need surgery, Reid said on his weekly radio show on WIP-AM (610).
"It looks like Bunkley is possibly done for the year," Reid said. "He's got surgery on that elbow. That's not a good thing. He had ligament damage in there."
Reid also said the nerve by the funny bone "shifted" due to the injury he picked up in Sunday's victory over the 49ers.
"It's not a career-ending play, but it's going to take time to get him back," Reid said.
Left tackle Jason Peters may have cartilage damage in his knee, and the team would know more in the next few days, Reid said.
"He can't support his weight on it," he said. King Dunlap filled in for Peters on Sunday and had a poor showing.
Bunkley's absence left the Eagles with just three true defensive tackles: Mike Patterson, Trevor Laws, and Antonio Dixon.
If Bunkley is indeed out for the season, he would be the third starter lost for the year, along with fullback Leonard Weaver and center Jamaal Jackson.
The Eagles may need to add help along the line or at wide receiver. Reid said he would meet with general manager Howie Roseman Tuesday to discuss the team's plans.
Reid indicated that defensive end Antwan Barnes, released this week to make room for wide receiver Chad Hall, is likely gone for good.
"He'll hook on with somebody," Reid said.
The Eagles acquired Barnes from the Ravens just before the season for a seventh-round draft pick. He played the first two games of the year but has been inactive since.
Reid, meanwhile, praised Hall, who had a 9-yard reception on a third-and-short play.
Hall was filling in as the fourth wide receiver for Riley Cooper, who still had headaches after suffering a concussion two weeks ago against Washington. Cooper cleared his concussion test last week but was held out of the game when symptoms returned.
Cornerback Asante Samuel, who also missed the San Francisco trip due to a concussion, has cleared his tests, Reid said.
"I think he'll be fine in the next couple of days," Reid said.
Reid praised LeSean McCoy - "he's playing out of his mind" - and said the young back would learn from a late game mistake on which he went down in bounds thinking he had picked up a first down only to realize he was 2 yards short.
The Eagles failed on their third-down conversion attempt and had to punt, giving the 49ers one more chance to tie or win the game.
"He was fighting like crazy to stay in bounds, is what he was doing, that's what he had primarily on his mind, so the clock would continue to run," Reid said. "The expression on his face when he looked over, and he saw he was 2 yards short, he just wanted to beat himself up."
Reid said quarterback Kevin Kolb handled several different blitz looks that the 49ers threw at him and "let the offense work for him."
It was praise for a quarterback who is more of a distributor who gets the ball to the Eagles' playmakers, as opposed to Michael Vick, who is a big-play threat.
Reid said he has confidence in both quarterbacks and was noncommittal when asked if Vick would play this weekend against Atlanta. Most independent observers believe it would be difficult for Vick to play so soon after suffering a painful cartilage tear by his ribs.
"We're not going to stick Michael back out there if he's injured and can't function, much as I know he wants to play against Atlanta," Reid said.
Asked who his starter is, Reid - who has said Vick remains the top quarterback - answered Monday "Michael Kolb."
He was joking. We think.
Inquirer Staff Writer
Brodrick Bunkley, the defensive tackle who started every game for the Eagles for the last two years, may be out for the season after suffering a ligament injury in his left elbow, coach Andy Reid said Monday.
Bunkley will need surgery, Reid said on his weekly radio show on WIP-AM (610).
"It looks like Bunkley is possibly done for the year," Reid said. "He's got surgery on that elbow. That's not a good thing. He had ligament damage in there."
Reid also said the nerve by the funny bone "shifted" due to the injury he picked up in Sunday's victory over the 49ers.
"It's not a career-ending play, but it's going to take time to get him back," Reid said.
Left tackle Jason Peters may have cartilage damage in his knee, and the team would know more in the next few days, Reid said.
"He can't support his weight on it," he said. King Dunlap filled in for Peters on Sunday and had a poor showing.
Bunkley's absence left the Eagles with just three true defensive tackles: Mike Patterson, Trevor Laws, and Antonio Dixon.
If Bunkley is indeed out for the season, he would be the third starter lost for the year, along with fullback Leonard Weaver and center Jamaal Jackson.
The Eagles may need to add help along the line or at wide receiver. Reid said he would meet with general manager Howie Roseman Tuesday to discuss the team's plans.
Reid indicated that defensive end Antwan Barnes, released this week to make room for wide receiver Chad Hall, is likely gone for good.
"He'll hook on with somebody," Reid said.
The Eagles acquired Barnes from the Ravens just before the season for a seventh-round draft pick. He played the first two games of the year but has been inactive since.
Reid, meanwhile, praised Hall, who had a 9-yard reception on a third-and-short play.
Hall was filling in as the fourth wide receiver for Riley Cooper, who still had headaches after suffering a concussion two weeks ago against Washington. Cooper cleared his concussion test last week but was held out of the game when symptoms returned.
Cornerback Asante Samuel, who also missed the San Francisco trip due to a concussion, has cleared his tests, Reid said.
"I think he'll be fine in the next couple of days," Reid said.
Reid praised LeSean McCoy - "he's playing out of his mind" - and said the young back would learn from a late game mistake on which he went down in bounds thinking he had picked up a first down only to realize he was 2 yards short.
The Eagles failed on their third-down conversion attempt and had to punt, giving the 49ers one more chance to tie or win the game.
"He was fighting like crazy to stay in bounds, is what he was doing, that's what he had primarily on his mind, so the clock would continue to run," Reid said. "The expression on his face when he looked over, and he saw he was 2 yards short, he just wanted to beat himself up."
Reid said quarterback Kevin Kolb handled several different blitz looks that the 49ers threw at him and "let the offense work for him."
It was praise for a quarterback who is more of a distributor who gets the ball to the Eagles' playmakers, as opposed to Michael Vick, who is a big-play threat.
Reid said he has confidence in both quarterbacks and was noncommittal when asked if Vick would play this weekend against Atlanta. Most independent observers believe it would be difficult for Vick to play so soon after suffering a painful cartilage tear by his ribs.
"We're not going to stick Michael back out there if he's injured and can't function, much as I know he wants to play against Atlanta," Reid said.
Asked who his starter is, Reid - who has said Vick remains the top quarterback - answered Monday "Michael Kolb."
He was joking. We think.
