Michael Vick Injury: Eagles Must Not Rush Fragile QB Back onto Field

Michael Vick is injured again. What a surprise!

The latest update on his condition, courtesy of the Philadelphia Enquirer's Jeff McClaine, indicates that Vick's concussion is "slight."

Rotoworld also sourced NFL Network writer Marc Stein as saying, "Vick was in good enough spirits and condition to shower with his teammates, and make the team flight home after the game."

This is all good news for Philadelphia, but not great news.

Last night's loss to Atlanta wasn't devastating. In fact, it may serve as the wake-up call this team desperately needs. Free agent acquisitions and big names don't win football games; good teams win football games.

But next week poses a very interesting scenario, one the Eagles cannot give in to, and should they rush Vick back onto the field, bad things could happen.

The Eagles' backup quarterback situation is murky at best. Summer-signing Vince Young (who is as much a question mark mentally as he is gifted physically) is still nursing a hamstring injury. And Mike Kafka, who we saw last night, would likely get the nod should Vick stay on the bench.

And that is exactly where Vick should stay for at least one more week when the Eagles host their division rival Giants next Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

The last time these two teams met the Giants sacked the QB three times and hit him 11 more times as well.

Prior to the wild fourth quarter and the unspeakable Matt Dodge punt that bailed the Eagles out, Big Blue's defense was putting on a clinic of how to stop Michael Vick.

This time the Giants enter in desperate fashion having lost to the Redskins opening week. If Vick is put in harms way against a defensive line hell bent on getting to him as it is, the Eagles will have nobody to blame but themselves for a ruined season.

New York had no problem knocking out Matt Moore, Shaun Hill, Tony Romo, Jay Cutler and Todd Collins last year. Knowing Vick's brain was recently addled will only add fuel to a growing fire.

And let's also realize that this Giants team doesn't pose a huge threat to the Eagles in the first place.

Big Blue has no tight end for the Eagles' safeties to worry about. Their offensive line hasn't proven they can run, or protect Eli Manning, like years past. Their linebacking unit scares themselves more than they scare anyone else. And their cornerbacks have absolutely no chance of matching up with the Eagles' speed on the outside.

In terms of straight matchup, the Eagles have the advantage even without Michael Vick right now.

No Philadelphia player or fan wants to give away a division game, especially to the Giants, but the benefit of keeping Vick healthy for the long run is much more important than winning a Week 3 game.

If Vick steps on the field next week it would be a foolish play from Andy Reid and the Eagles organization.

A few big hits courtesy of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul or Chris Canty could do serious damage to their QB and their playoff chances.

The Eagles cannot risk that. Not now. Not ever.

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LIFE HURTS. THIS INJURY UPDATE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DICKIES.