PHILADELPHIA - You haven't seen the last of Michael Vick this season.
The veteran Eagles quarterback has made significant progress rehabbing from the concussion he suffered two weeks ago.
While Vick still can't pass the impact test, meaning his brain function is below the baseline established before training camp, he could begin throwing the football Sunday morning. That would put Vick in Phase 4 of the Eagles' five-phase concussion recovery program. Last Sunday he was stuck at the first phase.
"In all likelihood, if nothing happens tonight, he'll progress into Phase 4 tomorrow which is football activity," Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Saturday. "I'll get a couple receivers that he can throw to. We'll go through a little workout. Just get him to throw a little bit. He's seen Dr. (Gary) Dorshimer three or four times during the process. Everything is progressing as normal with him."
All of that said head coach Andy Reid ruled Vick out of action for the second straight week. The Eagles once again will start rookie quarterback Nick Foles, who threw two interceptions and guided the Eagles to just two field goals in a 31-6 loss last week to the Washington Redskins. The Eagles take on the Carolina Panthers Monday at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I thought he was just more comfortable in there," Reid said of Foles' week of practice. "He doesn't have any problems spitting all that stuff out and knowing it. Just knowing how to take your drops and make your drops work with the coverage. And then the players that you're playing with, making sure you have a good feel for them. They've gotten time after practice and worked together. They've gotten time before and then obviously the reps during practice."
Vick is on schedule to see an independent neurologist next week. Vick must be cleared by the neurologist, the Eagles' doctors and Burkholder in order to practice. And he must pass the impact test.
Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy, on the other hand, still has headaches, dizziness and sluggishness from his concussion according to Burkholder. Hurt last week, McCoy is in Phase 1.
"If he goes up and down the steps too fast or tries to pick up his baby, that kind of thing, he gets a little fuzzy," Burkholder said. "It's not nearly as bad as it was in Washington but he's still there. He's very fatigued. He's got some sleep issues where he sleeps a lot and then he's awake and then he can't get back to sleep. One of the things that he complains about is sensitivity to noise. Just noise in general is bothering him. He's foggy and he's slowed down."
McCoy failed his impact test Saturday as he was below baseline.
Rookie Bryce Brown gets the start at running back Monday although Dion Lewis also is slated for action.
Burkholder said Vick has been able to attend position meetings, unlike McCoy. Fullback Stanley Havili also could get action.
Vick could practice next week if he remains symptom-free and passes the neurologic and impact tests.
"He's still got some criteria to meet," Burkholder said. "In reality he hasn't checked anything off of his sheet yet except the first three phases of rehab. I'm encouraged at the way he's going but like I told you last week, that's not what I get paid to do. If he plays, he plays and if he doesn't, he doesn't. But he's going to be healthy before he plays."