Michael Vick: Eagles Set To Risk QB's Season for Week 4 Win

The Philadelphia Eagles cannot afford a third straight conference loss.

After escaping St. Louis with a Week 1 win against a banged-up Rams team, the Eagles have fallen to the Falcons and Giants in respective weeks.

The common theme: injuries to Michael Vick.

This should hardly come as a surprise to anyone who has been watching the NFL since Vick joined the league. Only once in his career has he completed a 16-game season, and watching him take a hit is almost as painful as getting hit yourself.

The 6'0", 212-pound quarterback is one of the most fragile players in the league due to his reckless style of play and slight frame.

Even when he isn't out running circles around linebackers before getting blindsided or launched out of bounds by a defensive back, he's in the pocket getting thrown to the turf, fallen upon or crunched by 6'4", 280-pound defensive linemen.

Plain and simple, Vick takes a beating similar to that of Allen Iverson throughout his NBA career.

The only difference is that Vick can't perform at the same level with all the injuries. Even so, he is expected to be back on the field.

According to Philly.com update, Vick is expected to play this week against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field:

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If the swelling in his non-throwing hand decreases and he is cleared to play by a doctor, Vick will start for the second straight week in spite of injury.

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The Eagles, who famously traded away former backup QB Kevin Kolb for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick this summer, have had to resort to Mike Kafka twice in Vick's stead.

The No. 2 quarterback on the roster, Vince Young, has also battled injuries to this point in the season.

Coach Andy Reid is in a tight spot here.

Vick's injured hand is not going to get any better by going back out on the field this week. Add in the fact that he's bound to get hit again—he's the second-most hit quarterback in the league through three games this season—and the Eagles are running the risk of yet another injury to the $100 Million Man.

Essentially the Eagles are risking their investment, and Vick's long-term health, to secure their second win of the season.

Kafka threw two interceptions in limited action against the Giants last week and looked shaky overall.

Vince Young, if healthy, is a huge question mark once on the field.

But the Eagles also cannot afford to fall to 1-3. The Giants, Cowboys and Redskins are all 2-1, and should New York or Dallas ever get completely healthy they are going to be tough to chase from behind.

Vick's injury concerns—much like the situation with Tony Romo and the Cowboys last night—are being shoved aside in favor of the team's overall success.

The Eagles signed Vick to win football games, but as they keep rushing him out on the field they run the risk of him getting injured with each and every play.

Life with Michael Vick under center is going to determine the season for the prematurely dubbed "Dream Team."

As of right now, this team is living a nightmare instead.