Eagles' Westbrook improves, day to day for Sunday has 0 comments

Oct 3rd 2008, 10:56 | FFN-Score: 1 points

PHILADELPHIA -- All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook practiced for the second straight day Thursday, and the injured Eagles appear to be getting a little healthier.

Westbrook again participated in a limited fashion after sitting out last week with an ankle injury sustained in a Week 3 win over Pittsburgh, but his coaches were encouraged with his progress. The Eagles host Washington in an NFC East matchup on Sunday.

"He looked better," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "He went through the walk through this morning and looked better. He's day to day, and we'll see."

Tight end L.J. Smith has returned from a back injury that kept him out last week against Chicago and receiver Kevin Curtis, who has not played since having surgery for a sports hernia during the preseason, continues to improve.

"He looked pretty good yesterday, so that's a good thing," Mornhinweg said of Curtis, Philadelphia's leading receiver last year. "He's continuing his rehab so he's coming, and in talking to him, I know that he wants to start turning it loose here."

Last season, Curtis caught 77 passes for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns.

But Westbrook is the player that can give the Eagles the biggest boost on Sunday. The Philadelphia offense sorely missed him last week against Chicago when it stalled during a pivotal sequence near the goal line in the fourth quarter. The Eagles ran three straight times from the Chicago 1-yard line and failed to score, turning the ball over on downs in the closing minutes of a 24-20 loss.

Westbrook has five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving) this year. Last season, he led the league with 2,104 yards from scrimmage and caught 90 passes while accounting for 12 touchdowns.

Defensive end Victor Abiamiri was back at practice Thursday for the first time since having surgery to repair a broken right wrist. Abiamiri had the pins removed from his arm earlier in the week.

Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews sat out again with a back injury a day after visiting a specialist. Andrews has not played since sustaining the injury in Week 2 against the Cowboys.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press