Michael Vick Injury: Why It Was Just Matter of Time Before Eagles QB Got Hurt

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick took a beating in his team's 29-16 loss to the New York Giants today, and for the second week in a row had to leave the game with an injury.

Last week, it was a concussion suffered at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons. This week, it was Michael Vick's right (non-throwing) hand that was broken, after a hard hit by Giants defender Chris Canty.

Backup quarterback Mike Kafka filled in for Vick, who returned and left again for good in the fourth quarter.

That Vick was injured, yet again, should come as no surprise. He's a quarterback who takes extreme risks and is protected by a weak offensive line.

He was hit hard a number of times before finally leaving the game with the broken hand; indeed, the only thing that seems out of place with Vick's injury is that it was not a reaggravation of his Week 2 concussion.

Protecting Vick has been an issue since he took over for Kevin Kolb in 2010. He missed games with broken rib cartilage after taking a big hit on a goal-line run last season, and now with his concussion and broken hand, the questions about his offensive line continue.

The trouble with keeping Vick healthy is two-fold; first, there is that offensive line that can't keep him safe in the pocket. Secondly, Vick likes to make plays with his feet when he runs out of passing options, and he doesn't like to slide to save his own neck.

Last season, there was much talk of how Vick could be saved from injury if he became more of a pocket passer; this season, he's tried to evolve into one, but his line hasn't improved in turn.

Instead of procuring every available playmaker during this year's free agency period, perhaps they should have listened to the calls for a better offensive line to protect their team's biggest hope for playoff success—their quarterback.

Now, they sit at 1-2 in a highly competitive NFC East, with Vick likely out for the Eagles' Week 4 contest against the San Francisco 49ers—and perhaps longer.

From a dream team to a nightmare, indeed. However, it feels like everyone but the Eagles have woken up already.