PHILADELPHIA - Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson is out for the season with two cracked ribs.
X-rays Monday night completely missed the damage as the preliminary report was negative.
At any rate Jackson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with what head coach Andy Reid said typically would be a six-week rehab.
Jackson was hurt near the end of the first quarter getting tackled on an end-around by 235-pound linebacker Luke Kuechly.
"He's got multiple fractures up high," Reid said.
Elsewhere on the injury front quarterback Michael Vick is in Stage 4 of the concussion protocol according to Reid who added the veteran will have an impact test Wednesday.
Rookie Nick Foles remains the starter at least until Vick is healthy. Then again, it's tough to discern how much impact upper management has on playing time. Especially in the wake of the Eagles' decision to show veteran defensive end Jason Babin the door Tuesday.
Reid was asked about his reluctance to name Foles the starter for the rest of the season.
"First of all, I want Mike to get healthy," Reid said. "That's what I want him to do. I want to make sure he goes through that. I haven't gotten beyond that thinking right there. Just make sure he's alright and Nick continues - if he's in there - to play well. If I had to tell you today you're probably going to see Nick again here. He's got to concentrate on getting himself better and ready to go. We'll cross all that other stuff as it goes. I want Michael to get healthy."
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Eagles running back LeSean McCoy also failed his concussion impact test and remains in Stage 1 of the concussion protocol.
Rookie running back Bryce Brown rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in his first start, including a 65-yard scoring burst. But Brown also fumbled the ball away twice in a game where one possession could have forced overtime.
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Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (tail bone contusion), offensive tackle King Dunlap (sprained MCL) and center Dallas Reynolds (ankle) won't practice Wednesday when the Eagles begin preparations for their Sunday night road date with the Dallas Cowboys.
Fullback Stanley Havili (ankle) also is on the injury report.
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The Eagles have pulled the plug on bringing Jason Peters (Achilles' tendon) before the end of the season. The season dictated the move. With a seven-game losing streak and a 3-8 record, the Eagles have almost no chance of reaching the playoffs.
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If the 2013 NFL draft was held today the Eagles (3-8) would own the fifth overall pick.
The Chiefs (1-10) would choose first, followed by the Jaguars (2-9).
Selecting 3-through-6, all with 3-8 records are the Raiders, Browns, Eagles and Panthers.
Strength of schedule (winning percentage of opponents), not head-to-head play is the criteria used in draft tiebreakers.
By the way, don't expect the Chiefs to draft quarterback Geno Smith with the first pick, which is where most mocks have him going. A high-ranking NFL source said the Chiefs won't go in that direction.