Eagles not rushing Vick in first week of practice

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA(AP) -- Michael Vick was under center and Brian
Westbrook in the backfield. Brent Celek took his spot at tight
end.

In Vick's ideal scenario, he'd be taking snaps with the
Philadelphia Eagles first-team offense in a regular season game,
not just a routine preseason practice.

Yet that's all it was. Vick ran the scout team offense on
Tuesday, calling plays for Westbrook and other starters who are
injured or recovering from injury, and not ready to play in
Thursday's preseason game against Indianapolis.

"Best scout team ever," Celek said.

In October and beyond, Vick could be taking snaps with the
starters in a game that counts.

"I don't necessarily know where he's going to fit in as a
player, where he's going to fit in this offense," Westbrook
said.

The Eagles are not in a two-minute drill to find out.

It's been all about normalcy in Vick's first week of practice
with the Eagles. No special looks, no Wildcat packages, just a
fourth-string quarterback watching and learning. And he's not
traveling with the team to Indianapolis because he cannot play
in the game - Andy Reid's usual policy.

Vick, who has not commented since Friday's press conference
introducing him as an Eagle, can only play in the last two
preseason games, starting with a home matchup against the
Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 27.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would consider Vick for
full reinstatement by no later than Week 6 (Oct. 18-19).

Vick is not getting any special treatment in practice. He takes
his reps at quarterback behind Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley and
undrafted rookie Adam DiMichele. McNabb's backup, Kevin Kolb, is
out with a knee injury.

"He looks good to me," Celek said of Vick. "He throws the ball
real well and can read the defense."

Reid has insisted that Kolb will be the No. 2, but only two
quarterbacks are normally active. Once Vick is eligible for a
regular season game, Reid could activate Vick at the expense of
a player at another position, likely a special teams player.
Reid also could make Kolb the No. 3 QB.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do there. Something will
happen," Reid said.

More crucial to Philadelphia's success this season than Vick is
a healthy Westbrook. Westbrook, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher,
has felt good in his first few practices since offseason ankle
surgery.

The star running back had surgery to remove scar tissue and bone
fragments from his right ankle in June. He initially hurt the
ankle last season in Week 3 against Pittsburgh.

Westbrook also had his left knee cleaned out shortly after the
Eagles lost to Arizona in the NFC championship game last
January. He experienced pain in the ankle while rehabbing the
knee.

Reid has increased Westbrook's workload in each of his last
three practices. The versatile Westbrook may just sit out the
entire preseason and take his first snap in the Sept. 13 opener
against Carolina.

"I think I'm right on time, right where I want to be at,"
Westbrook said. "I wouldn't mind getting in a game a little bit,
but I don't think not having any preseason games would hurt me
as far as the regular season."

There should be plenty of leg room on the flight to Indy.
Defensive end Trent Cole (shoulder), cornerback Sheldon Brown
(ribs), guard Todd Herremans (foot), defensive end Darren Howard
(groin), tackle Jason Peters (quad), tackle Shawn Andrews (back)
and guard Stacy Andrews (knee) are all staying behind. So are
Westbrook, Vick, and three others.

Shawn Andrews had his back examined in Los Angeles on Monday and
no structural damage was found. Reid was unsure when Andrews
would practice.

Reid said starters will play the first half against the Colts.

The fans will be watching - so will Vick and several teammates.