Eagles Notes | Impressive Spikes has shoulder tear

Takeo Spikes

had an impressive game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, and it became even more impressive yesterday when Eagles coach

Andy Reid

revealed that his linebacker had a torn rotator cuff.

Reid said he was not sure when Spikes suffered the shoulder injury; it was not announced after the game. The veteran linebacker was seen with an ice pack wrapped around his left shoulder in the visiting locker room after the Eagles' 10-6 upset victory at Texas Stadium. The tear was revealed during an MRI examination yesterday morning.

"I think he played with it for a bit," Reid said.

He did not rule out the possibility that Spikes would continue to play with the injury when the Eagles face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at the Superdome. That decision could be easier now that the Eagles have been eliminated from the playoffs.

"We'll see how he's able to handle that," Reid said, adding that players have continued to play with the injury in the past.

Spikes finished the game with five tackles, including one for a 4-yard loss that put the Cowboys in a second-and-14 situation right before cornerback Lito Sheppard intercepted a Tony Romo pass, a turnover that led to the Eagles' only touchdown. Spikes also knocked down two passes.

If Spikes cannot play Sunday, Reid said the Eagles would likely move rookie Stewart Bradley to middle linebacker and slide Omar Gaither from the middle to Spikes' weak-side spot. He did not rule out, however, that rookie Akeem Jordan could move into the weak-side spot, with Gaither remaining in the middle.

In addition to Spikes, right guard Shawn Andrews (right knee), tight end Matt Schobel (concussion), safety Brian Dawkins (lower-back spasms), and running back Brian Westbrook (right knee) were listed on the coach's day-after injury report.

Andrews limped off the field in the first quarter after David Akers' missed 47-yard field-goal attempt and did not return.

Reid said that the Pro Bowl guard was sore and that an MRI exam did not reveal much.

"We'll just see how he does in the next couple of days," he said.

Schobel suffered a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin during the Eagles' first offensive series. Reid said he did not think Schobel's concussion was as severe as the one that kept running back Correll Buckhalter out of Sunday's game.

It appears Schobel could have a chance to play against New Orleans. Buckhalter is expected to return against the Saints.

The coach was not cheering for his friend

Brad Childress

last night, and for good reason. However, Childress' Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears, 20-13, knocking the 6-8 Eagles out of the playoff picture.

"You've got to wear a Chicago hat," Reid said. "Tonight, I'll be a Bears fan. I love Brad Childress, but tonight I'll be a Bears fan."

- Bob Brookover