Still rehabilitating from ankle and thumb injuries that sidelined him for last week's game, Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb missed a second straight day of practice Thursday, increasing the chances that backup A.J. Feeley will start Sunday's home game against the Seattle Seahawks. McNabb did not participate in any phase of the Thursday practice and instead received treatment from team trainers for his injuries. On Wednesday McNabb said he was "a lot closer" to playing this week than last and that there was "a good possibility" he would be sufficiently recovered to face the Seahawks. But Coach Andy Reid has been insistent that he will not risk further injury to McNabb and that he won't play until the staff is comfortable with his recovery.

On the mend from a sprained ankle and thumb, Donovan McNabb has returned from a broken ankle, sports hernia, and a knee injury during his lengthy career. McNabb said Wednesday his ankle and thumb have improved, and he is closer to getting back on the field than he was a week ago. But his availability for Sunday's game against the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks (7-4) is still uncertain. "I feel a lot closer, but you have to be smart about the whole situation," he said. The quarterback acknowledged that he's getting a bit anxious to return. "I think I've gotten to the point where you have to just let frustration go," he said. "You focus on getting yourself back healthy to get out there and function well."

Eagles' defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sunday night during the loss to New England. His status could be in question for this Sunday's home game against Seattle. Eagles' Head Coach Andy Reid also said that Brian Westbrook has a bruised knee. "We'll see how [Bunkley] does over the next couple of days," Reid said at his news conference yesterday following the 31-28 loss at Gillette Stadium. "He has an MCL sprain, which caused his hamstring to spasm." Reid said after the game Sunday that Bunkley had a hamstring injury. It appeared as if he may have suffered the injury on the Eagles' final competitive defensive play of the fourth quarter when he had his legs cut from underneath him by guard Logan Mankins. Bunkley was in pursuit of running back Laurence Maroney and did not see Mankins coming from behind.

A.J. Feeley will not get a chance to save Philadelphia's season and fill the role as the Eagles' next Jeff Garcia. If Donovan McNabb is completely healthy, he's the Eagles' quarterback. Now all Coach Andy Reid can do is hope McNabb is healthy enough to play this week against Seattle. While McNabb is making progress from thumb and ankle injuries that kept him out of Philadelphia's loss at New England, Reid said he wanted his quarterback at 100 percent before he plays again. "We'll see how he does," Reid said Monday. "We're trying to get him back to 100 percent before we stick him in the game." The QB situation is eerily familiar for the Eagles. They were 5-6 last season, and McNabb was out with a torn knee ligament. Garcia stepped in and led Philadelphia to five straight victories and one more in the postseason.

No running up the score this week for the New England Patriots. This win came hard. Asante Samuel returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown and had a second pick to shut off a late Philadelphia drive as the Patriots beat the Eagles 31-28 Sunday night to run their record to 11-0.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb will miss the Philadelphia Eagles' game Sunday against New England because of a sprained ankle and injured thumb. McNabb hurt the thumb on his throwing hand early against Miami last Sunday and left after injuring his ankle in the second quarter. He has not practiced all week. A.J. Feeley, who led the Eagles to a pair of touchdowns in a 17-7 win over the Dolphins, gets the start for underdog Philadelphia. McNabb has started every game since returning ahead of schedule after a torn knee ligament ended his season early last year. Injuries ended his regular season three times in the past six years. The Eagles are 13-8 without him, including 1-1 in the playoffs last season. Feeley will make his first start since he led Miami over Cleveland on Dec. 26, 2004. He was 4-1 as a starter in the last five regular-season games in 2002, helping the Eagles finish first in the NFC after McNabb and backup Koy Detmer were injured. Feeley was 3-5 in eight starts with the Dolphins in '04, including a win over eventual Super Bowl champion New England.

Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb is doubtful to start against New England after missing his third straight practice Friday because of a sprained ankle and injured thumb. McNabb hurt the thumb on his throwing hand early against Miami last Sunday and left after injuring his ankle in the second quarter. A.J. Feeley, who led the Eagles to a pair of touchdowns in a 17-7 win over the Dolphins, would start if McNabb can't play. A decision might not come until shortly before kickoff. "He's gotten a little better each day, so that's a positive," Coach Andy Reid said.

Donovan McNabb missed practice again Thursday because of ankle and thumb injuries, and it's uncertain whether the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback will play for the Eagles against New England on Sunday. McNabb hurt his thumb early in Philadelphia's 17-7 win over Miami and left the game after he sprained his right ankle in the second quarter. A.J. Feeley led the Eagles (5-5) to a pair of touchdowns and would start against the Patriots if McNabb can't play. Coach Andy Reid has said that McNabb doesn't have to practice this week to play at New England (10-0). The decision on a starting quarterback could be made shortly before kickoff.

Donovan McNabb didn't need a cane or crutches to walk around, and he joked that ballet dancing was part of his rehab routine. His sense of humor is intact, though a gimpy ankle and sore thumb could keep the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback on the sideline when the Eagles visit New England on Sunday. McNabb didn't practice Wednesday because of a sprained right ankle and a swollen thumb sustained in Philadelphia's 17-7 win over Miami. McNabb hurt the thumb on his throwing hand early and left after injuring his ankle in the second quarter. A.J. Feeley led the Eagles to a pair of touchdowns and would start against the Patriots if McNabb can't play. "You want to have all of your faculties intact before you get back out and be competitive again," McNabb said. "You want to be smart, but you also want to go out there and play."

Just three seasons after being separated by just three points in Super Bowl XXXIX, the gap between the Patriots and Eagles has widened to historic proportions: Philly is a 23?-point underdog. That is the largest point spread for an NFL game that does not involve an expansion team, according to odds-making experts in Las Vegas. On Dec. 5, 1976, the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 24-point underdogs to the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers covered easily, winning 42-0. "Nowadays, you don't see too many spreads over 16 or 17 points," said Sean Van Patten, an oddsmaker at Sports Consultants in Las Vegas. "That's because most teams take their starters out in the fourth quarter of a lopsided game. The Patriots don't. I call this phenomenon The [Bill] Belichick Factor."