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Updated: September 21, 2011, 9:19 AM ET
ESPN.com news services
Although Michael Vick will first have to pass his concussion tests before being officially cleared, the Eagles believe he should be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The Giants are hoping Vick plays, safety Antrel Rolle said on Tuesday.
"I want the best of the best," he said on his weekly radio spot with WFAN. "And he is the best. I hope Michael Vick plays, because at the end of the day, I don't want any excuses when we go down to Philly and put it to them the way we will."
On Monday, head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder wouldn't give a timetable for Vick's return.
"That's foolish on our part medically to put time frame out there," Burkholder said Monday. "Everybody wants to know a time frame, everybody wants to know whether Mike's going to play, everybody wants to know whether Mike's going to practice. We're going to go through our protocol and when Mike's ready to practice, I'm going to turn him over to coach and he's going to make a decision whether he's ready to play, had reps, all that kind of stuff."
Vick was injured in the third quarter when he was spun around by a defender and slammed into right tackle Todd Herremans. His neck whipped back and he bit his tongue, which led to him spitting blood on his way off the field.
Vick wasn't woozy and seemed fully alert. He certainly was aware of the score -- 31-21 in favor of the Eagles -- when he pointed it out to fans in the Georgia Dome on his way in for tests. Vick barely failed those baseline tests, so the medical staff kept him on the sideline.
"He was just a little bit off, enough that we acted on the side of caution to hold him back as our standard protocol says," Burkholder said. "I was with him on the airplane. He was absolutely fine last night. As the days go on, we'll see, but last night he was pretty good. He told coach he was fine, he told his teammates he was fine, he told me he was fine, and he was very far along last night."
Without Vick, Philadelphia couldn't hold onto the lead and lost 35-31 to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
Vick must pass several different tests and be evaluated by an independent neurologist before he can be cleared to return. The Pro Bowl quarterback had thrown for 242 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a starter in Atlanta since going to prison and being released by the Falcons.
Reid sounded encouraged by a conversation he had with Vick after the game.
"He remembered everything," Reid said Monday. "He recalled everything. I tried to quiz him and see where he was at. He was frustrated that he wasn't able to finish. He had a vested interest in finishing."
When asked Tuesday if the Giants will concoct two game plans to prepare for Vick and his potential replacement Mike Kafka, coach Tom Coughlin promptly responded that his expectation is that Vick will play.
"I expect Michael Vick will play and if he can't play, I'm sure he will," Coughlin said. "I think that if Michael Vick can play, he will play."
Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, ESPNNewYork.com Giants reporter Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.
ESPN.com news services
Although Michael Vick will first have to pass his concussion tests before being officially cleared, the Eagles believe he should be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The Giants are hoping Vick plays, safety Antrel Rolle said on Tuesday.
"I want the best of the best," he said on his weekly radio spot with WFAN. "And he is the best. I hope Michael Vick plays, because at the end of the day, I don't want any excuses when we go down to Philly and put it to them the way we will."
On Monday, head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder wouldn't give a timetable for Vick's return.
"That's foolish on our part medically to put time frame out there," Burkholder said Monday. "Everybody wants to know a time frame, everybody wants to know whether Mike's going to play, everybody wants to know whether Mike's going to practice. We're going to go through our protocol and when Mike's ready to practice, I'm going to turn him over to coach and he's going to make a decision whether he's ready to play, had reps, all that kind of stuff."
Vick was injured in the third quarter when he was spun around by a defender and slammed into right tackle Todd Herremans. His neck whipped back and he bit his tongue, which led to him spitting blood on his way off the field.
Vick wasn't woozy and seemed fully alert. He certainly was aware of the score -- 31-21 in favor of the Eagles -- when he pointed it out to fans in the Georgia Dome on his way in for tests. Vick barely failed those baseline tests, so the medical staff kept him on the sideline.
"He was just a little bit off, enough that we acted on the side of caution to hold him back as our standard protocol says," Burkholder said. "I was with him on the airplane. He was absolutely fine last night. As the days go on, we'll see, but last night he was pretty good. He told coach he was fine, he told his teammates he was fine, he told me he was fine, and he was very far along last night."
Without Vick, Philadelphia couldn't hold onto the lead and lost 35-31 to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
Vick must pass several different tests and be evaluated by an independent neurologist before he can be cleared to return. The Pro Bowl quarterback had thrown for 242 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a starter in Atlanta since going to prison and being released by the Falcons.
Reid sounded encouraged by a conversation he had with Vick after the game.
"He remembered everything," Reid said Monday. "He recalled everything. I tried to quiz him and see where he was at. He was frustrated that he wasn't able to finish. He had a vested interest in finishing."
When asked Tuesday if the Giants will concoct two game plans to prepare for Vick and his potential replacement Mike Kafka, coach Tom Coughlin promptly responded that his expectation is that Vick will play.
"I expect Michael Vick will play and if he can't play, I'm sure he will," Coughlin said. "I think that if Michael Vick can play, he will play."
Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, ESPNNewYork.com Giants reporter Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.