NFL Notebook | Feeley holding reins for Eagles
PHILADELPHIA - A.J. Feeley prepares for every game as if he’s the starting quarterback. Only difference this week is he’s practicing as one, too.
Feeley again took snaps with the Eagles’ first-team offense Thursday when Donovan McNabb missed his second straight practice because of a sprained ankle and swollen thumb. Feeley will be ready to start against undefeated New England (10-0) on Sunday night if McNabb can’t play.
In Philadelphia, the backup quarterback doesn’t take any snaps during the week except with the scout team unless the starter is injured. So, Feeley is working extensively with the starting unit for the first time since the preseason. He entered during the second quarter when McNabb got hurt last week, and led the Eagles to a pair of touchdowns in a 17-7 win over Miami.
“The sense of urgency for me intensifies because it could happen sooner for me to get in there,” Feeley said.
Feeley completed 13 of 19 passes for 116 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the winless Dolphins in his first action since the regular-season finale last year. He was 4-1 as a starter in the last five regular-season games in 2002, helping the Eagles finish first in the NFC after McNabb and backup Koy Detmer were injured.
Coach Andy Reid insisted the game plan doesn’t change when McNabb isn’t playing, and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is comfortable with Feeley.
“He’s played very well for us. He may very well fit this offense, and this offense may very well highlight some of his strengths,” Mornhinweg said.
The Eagles (5-5) have won two straight to move within one game of a wild-card spot in the jumbled NFC. They’ll have to be flawless in all areas just to have a chance against the Patriots.
“It’s about being efficient, hanging on to the ball and not making turnovers and scoring when you’re in the red zone,” Feeley said.
Notes
• The Falcons’ Warrick Dunn became the 22nd player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards, reaching the milestone with a 2-yard run against Indianapolis.
He became the second player this month to join the exclusive club. Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor made it to 10,000 yards on Nov. 11 against Tennessee.
• Mike Singletary, the 49ers assistant head coach, pulled himself from consideration for the Baylor coaching opening. He said he wasn’t offered the job at his alma mater.
“For me, it never got to that point,” said Singletary, who met with Baylor officials for five hours Tuesday.
The Hall of Fame linebacker has stirred interest for head-coaching jobs in the NFL the last two years, and there are expected to be plenty of openings after this season.
“My preference has always been that I wanted to stay in the NFL,” said Singletary, who passed up an opportunity to coach his son, a redshirt outside linebacker at Baylor, in order to keep his NFL head-coaching prospects alive.
• The Titans added WR Mike Williams to the roster. Williams was released by the Raiders on Oct. 30.
• The Steelers will put down a new grass playing field in their stadium in time for Monday night’s game against Miami, but must wait until four Pittsburgh-area high-school title games today and the South Florida-Pitt game on Saturday afternoon are played.
With intermittent rain forecast all week, the Steelers were concerned that the pounding the current Heinz Field surface will take this weekend might create a poor playing surface on Monday.