Michael Vick Injury: Why Eagles Are Negligently Rushing QB Back from Concussion

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick so far appears on track in his progress as he comes off the concussion he suffered in his team's Week 2 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. However, this does not mean that he should play this Sunday against the New York Giants.

The NFL has spent considerable time and energy educating players and fans about the dangers of playing after a concussion, and has put together quite the battery of limitations, tests and guidelines to prevent a player who is not fully healthy from getting back on the field too early.

And for good reason.

Last season, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie suffered two concussions—the first knocking him out of four games, and the second sending him to injured reserve. Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson missed two after his concussion, also sustained against the Falcons.

The probability of getting concussed a second time, even on a less severe hit, increases when a player returns too soon. Even without physical symptoms, a player can still be suffering the effects of the concussion for days or weeks after the injury.

Vick is no doubt the most important player on the Eagles' offense, and they certainly want to see him on the field against their division-mate Giants this week in an attempt to get a leg up on the NFC East title.

However, it is just Week 3. A loss to the Giants without Vick under center must be preferred to losing Vick for additional weeks, or even the whole season, if he gets another head injury.

It's not a foregone conclusion that the Eagles can't beat the Giants without Vick. While the quarterback is of course of great importance to a team, especially a quarterback as versatile and dynamic as Vick, a win or a loss is a team effort.

The Eagles field a team that is well-balanced on most fronts, and boast a roster packed with some of the league's biggest playmakers. The fact that Philadelphia's weakness is stopping the run has no bearing on Vick's performance.

Should the Eagles get behind on Sunday because of the Giants' run game, they need to feel confident enough in backup quarterback Mike Kafka to take the reins of the offense and lead the team to a victory.

No, Kafka is not Vick, but if head coach Andy Reid has all the confidence in the world in him, then the rest of the team and the team's fans should as well.

I don't think one can assume that the Eagles will collapse without Vick in the same way the Colts have without Peyton Manning; they are far too good at most every aspect of the game to struggle so mightily without their starting quarterback.

Wanting to play, or feeling good enough to play, is far different than actually being healthy enough to play. Furthermore, being cleared to play doesn't necessarily mean a player will take the field, and it shouldn't be the only thing Vick, Reid and the rest of the Eagles organization considers when deciding if the time is right for Vick to return.

At this point in the season, I believe it is better for the Eagles and Vick to err on the side of caution and not have the quarterback take the field on Sunday. Short term reward isn't a payoff for long-term risk; if a player can sit for a week after suffering a concussion, I am all for it.