McCoy to Start; Allen Out in Safety Dance

Eagles coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that LeSean McCoy will start Sunday against the Redskins in his return from a concussion. There had been speculation that the Eagles might sit McCoy for the final two games to guard against reinjury.

"When you're healthy, you play," Reid said. He indicated that McCoy agreed.

Reid also announced that the starting shot Colt Anderson has earned won't be at the expense of Kurt Coleman, the safety Anderson replaced the past two games while Coleman recovered from a sternum injury. Reid said Anderson will take Nate Allen's spot.

Reid said all three would play, but he wants Anderson and Coleman as the starters because the Redskins like to run the ball and Anderson and Coleman offer physicality. Allen, a second-round pick in 2010, has been among the disappointments this season on a defense that has seen more than a few of them.

"Colt's been playing well, man," Allen said. "I'm not sure exactly what the decision was, but everything we do is to win games ... We're just gonna roll with it."

Allen said playing the run "is something you can always improve on."

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Tight end Clay Harbor said he suffered three small fractures in his lumbar region early in last Thursday's loss to the Bengals, but didn't want to leave the game, with the other regular tight end, Brent Celek, already sidelined by a concussion.

Harbor said he felt "stabbing pains" when running and wasn't able to move very well. He said the injury was no excuse for his fumble, part of a cascade of four Eagles turnovers in five plays that turned the game around.

Celek, injured on the first play of the Tampa game, said he is fine now and will play this week. He said he was "real proud of" Harbor for his effort against the Bengals.

Rookie FB/TE Emil Igwenagu probably will be more of a tight end this week, Reid indicated, and rookie Chris Polk will take fullback reps. Regular fullback Stan Havili is sidelined with a hamstring problem and is unlikely to play against Washington.

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Andy Reid confirmed that Michael Vick will be the third quarterback this week as the Eagles "ease him back in."