Michael Vick Injury: Will Philadelphia Eagles Turn to Mike Kafka or Vince Young?

The Philadelphia Eagles put all of their eggs in the $100 million basket of Michael Vick, and he showed why many people thought that was a risky venture.

In the third quarter of the Eagles 35-31 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Vick was moving in the pocket when the Falcons pass rush locked up his legs and he fell head first into offensive lineman Todd Herremans.

Vick was clearly shaken, and as the video camera zoomed in on the staggered star, they showed an image of Vick spitting blood out of his mouth.

That image was enough to send the people calling the game into a frenzy of speculation on what could be wrong with the biggest key to Philadelphia’s success.

ESPN is reporting about Vick’s condition after the game and moving forward:

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No. 7 staggered to the sideline and appeared to spit out blood coming off the field. Vick was not hospitalized and was cleared to travel with the team back to Philadelphia, but will have to undergo concussion-specific testing before he can be cleared to return to practice or play in a game.

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With the questions about Vick’s durability coming into focus just two games into the season, it shows the offensive line needs more help than thought and one of the Eagles' backup quarterbacks better be good enough to lead the team to a victory or two.

There is no guarantee that either of the backups will have to play, and Vick will be considered the starter with a week of rest as long as the doctors clear him and there are no major setbacks.

If for any reason Vick can’t go, though, who will start?

Eagles beat reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer Jeff McLane is reporting on Twitter about head coach Andy Reid’s response to who the backup is:

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Reid would not speculate on Vick for next week and who may be his replacement. Said Young is getting close.

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While Reid wouldn’t speculate, its not because of his normal anti-media banter this time. Reid believes that Vick will be back next week and that he is comfortable with anyone that marches onto the field.

Former Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka is on the good side of everyone in the Philadelphia organization, and his performance in the waning minutes of Sunday’s loss make him the favorite over former Tennessee Titan Vince Young.

Young has been nursing a hamstring injury, but the possibility of playing should be the spark that gets him back on the practice field and ready to go into the game if called upon.

As always, Reid will leave this as an open competition for the starting job if Vick can’t play, but Kafka has to be the favorite after going 7-for-9 for 72 yards and running the offense efficiently down the field.

Either route the Eagles travel, there will be a solid enough quarterback in Kafka or Young to guide them when Vick goes down, but Philadelphia needs Michael Vick to stay healthy to contend for a Super Bowl.

Michael Vick knew what happened to him, and with a week of relaxing and getting himself right physically, the Eagles quarterback will be back for new Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

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