Eagles QB Michael Vick is said to be progressing well as he goes through the NFL's mandated concussion protocol this week. Head trainer Rick Burkholder says that while Vick is still experiencing soreness in his jaw and neck, his baseline concussion test was "very close to normal" and that he doesn't have any symptoms. Burkholder did warn however, that sometimes symptoms can reappear later in the week. The Eagles also revealed that an MRI Vick had done yesterday was negative.
The says that Vick is progressing through the process "as expected" but wouldn't offer a guess as to whether he might be ready to play this week. However, Andy Reid said that if Vick is cleared to play, then he will playing. Vick was on the practice field today for the team walkthrough, but was only doing some light throwing. The next step will be for him to have further "impact testing" after tomorrow's practice to see if he has any lingering symptoms. If he does not, the final step is for him to see an independent neurologist. If and when that doctor clears him, Vick will be free to play again.
So while it is too early to say either way whether Vick will be ready for the weekend, the general feeling around the NovaCare complex appears to be an optimistic one. Should he not be ready to go, Andy Reid says he has not yet decided on whether Mike Kafka or Vince Young would get the start. That decision likely depends heavily on the state of Vince Young's hamstring, which was injured in the final preseason game against the Jets.