NFL notes
Published 8:17 pm Saturday, November 24, 2007
EAGLES: Quarterback Donovan McNabb will miss Philadelphia’s game today 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.
Strong safety Quintin Mikell also is out with a sprained knee, meaning Philadelphia might have to start third-string J.R. Reed.
PANTHERS: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde was listed as questionable for the Panthers’ game today against the Saints after he showed up for practice Saturday with a stiff back.
If Testaverde can’t play, David Carr would likely start against New Orleans (4-6) four days after coach John Fox had said the 44-year-old Testaverde gave Carolina (4-6) a better chance to win.
Testaverde had appeared to have recovered from a strained right Achilles tendon that forced him to miss a game and leave another at halftime. Testaverde had started the previous two games and had practiced all week.
A team official said Testaverde was not injured at practice on Friday, but awoke Saturday with back pain.
DOLPHINS: Miami linebacker Derrick Pope missed practice Saturday after being hospitalized for undisclosed reasons.
Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said the team was “gathering information” but he did not know why Pope was in the hospital. The Dolphins did not immediately disclose the name of the hospital.
“Obviously, Derrick is somebody we care a lot about and I’ll find out more, but I don’t want to speculate as to what the situation is and we’ll update you once we get more information,” Cameron said at the news conference Saturday.
Pope’s status for Monday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was unclear. He has started at outside linebacker for the past five games.
STEELERS: Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field is getting a makeover, and a quick one, too.
The Steelers will put down a new grass playing field in time for Monday night’s game against the Dolphins, but had to wait until four Pittsburgh-area high school championship games on Friday and the South Florida-Pitt game on Saturday afternoon were played.
With intermittent rain forecast all week, the Steelers were concerned that the pounding their current field will take this weekend might create a poor playing surface on Monday.
“Our goal is to do everything in our power to provide the best possible conditions for both teams,” Heinz Field director of management Jimmie Sacco said in a statement. “After considering the number of high school, college and pro football games being played at Heinz Field in November, combined with the possibility of inclement weather, we believe this is the best way to go.”
Several Cleveland Browns players said Heinz Field has the worst surface in the NFL.
Associated Press
