Tuesday, November 19, 2002
There's debate for McNabb to have surgery or let the broken ankle heal on its own.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Donovan McNabb took the Philadelphia Eagles to first place in the NFC East. Koy Detmer will have to keep them there.
McNabb probably will miss the rest of the regular season and could be out for the playoffs because of his broken right ankle. Detmer, who hasn't started a game since 1999, takes over for the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
"I'm looking at it like Donovan is going to take care of business and do what needs to be done and that we don't have Donovan for the season and we move on," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Monday. "I think it's important that the football team functions that way."
Injured early in game
McNabb was injured on the third play of Sunday's game against Arizona, but he stayed in and threw a career-best four touchdown passes to lead the Eagles past the Cardinals 38-14.
The Eagles (7-3) have six games remaining and hold a one-game lead over the New York Giants in the division. McNabb could possibly return for the playoffs, but Reid said it's too early to set a definite timetable.
McNabb, his family and the Eagles' medical staff are considering options that include surgery or letting the broken bone heal on its own. It's possible McNabb could return sooner if he had surgery, but that hasn't been determined.
"We'll have a better idea in the next day or so," Reid said. "We're looking at right now six-to-eight weeks."
McNabb has made 53 straight starts, including playoffs, but his streak will end when Detmer takes the snaps against the San Francisco 49ers (7-3) next Monday night.
Detmer, a seventh-round pick by the Eagles in 1997, was 1-4 as a starter in 1998 for a team that finished 3-13. He won his only start in 1999 when the Eagles went 5-11. He has completed 113 of 227 passes (49.7 percent) for 1,240 yards, eight TDs and nine interceptions in six seasons, and has thrown just 17 passes since his last start.