McNabb hurt in Eagles' 17-7 win

Brian Westbrook ran for a career-high 148 yards on 32 carries as the Eagles beat the winless Miami Dolphins 17-7 today after starting quarterback Donovan McNabb limped off the field with a sprained right ankle in the first half.

A.J. Feeley threw a touchdown pass to Jason Avant and Correll Buckhalter added an eight-yard touchdown run as the Eagles (5-5) won their second straight game for the first time all season, but McNabb's injury was the big news of the rainy and windswept day.

Eagles coach Andy Reid said the ankle sprain was not severe, but the injury hurt McNabb's mobility so the decision was made to keep him on the sidelines.

"If Donovan's healthy, he's the quarterback," Reid said.

McNabb was hit by Dolphins cornerback Michael Lehan as he threw the ball away on a third down play. Lehan pulled him down and McNabb landed awkwardly as his right leg twisted underneath him with 7:44 remaining in the first half.

Moments later, David Akers kicked a 33-yard field goal to pull the Eagles within 7-3.

McNabb left the field under his own power but limping noticeably. He then went to the locker room for X-rays. The team said the X-rays were on McNabb's right ankle, and were negative. McNabb was just 3-of-11 for 34 yards and two interceptions before leaving the game.

McNabb said after the game that he would see how his ankle felt during the week before he would know about his ability to play at the undefeated New England Patriots next week.

"For me to just go out there and be a sitting duck kind of takes away from what we're trying to do," he said, acknowledging that he might not be ready in a week. "If I can't go out there and be effective, that's what we're going to do."

Feeley was 13-of-19 for 116 yards, a touchdown and an interception in relief of McNabb but Westbrook, who did not practice on Thursday or Friday because of a sore knee, and the Eagles defense were the stars of the show.

Avant's four-yard scoring catch helped the Eagles get some breathing room against the Dolphins (0-10) when he caught a bullet from Feeley on a short slant route with 11:00 left to play. The Eagles moved 77 yards in 10 plays, including six runs by Westbrook for 56 yards.

The defense provided more cushion with an impressive goal-line stand later in the fourth quarter, turning the Dolphins away after Miami had a first-and-goal at the Eagles 1. A Jesse Chatman run lost a yard, then rookie quarterback John Beck threw two incomplete passes.

On fourth down Chatman took a pitch, ran right and was stuffed for a 13-yard loss by Eagles defensive end Juqua Thomas, starting in the place of veteran Jevon Kearse, with 6:40 left to play.

Beck, the rookie from BYU making his first NFL start, was just 9-of-22 for 109 yards. The Dolphins had just 188 yards of total offense.

Correll Buckhalter scored on an eight-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 10-7 lead. Buckhalter gave the Eagles their first lead with 11:09 remaining in the third quarter when his run capped a seven-play, 62-yard drive.

Feeley entered on the Eagles' next possession, with 6:40 left in the second quarter. He threw the Eagles' third interception in the red zone of the game, to Andre Goodman, with 2:08 left in the first half. Goodman easily intercepted the ball thrown into double coverage at the Miami 3-yard line and returned it to the 7.

McNabb returned to the sidelines after halftime, but Feeley stayed in the game as McNabb donned a hooded jacket and knit cap.

McNabb tore the ACL in his right knee almost a year ago in a loss to the Tennessee Titans. Surgery ended McNabb's season, but then-backup Jeff Garcia led the Eagles to five straight wins, the NFC East title, and a playoff berth. McNabb has had three of the previous five seasons ended early by injury.

Rookie Ted Ginn Jr. returned a punt 87 yards for the game's first score as the Dolphins took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

Ginn, the rookie from Ohio State, tied the Dolphins record for longest punt return when he went the distance with 14:35 remaning in the second period.

The Eagles and Dolphins played a scoreless first quarter as both teams struggled to move the ball in rainy and windy weather.

The Eagles lost an early touchdown when tight end L.J. Smith was called for holding on a 46-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to Reggie Brown with 10:03 left in the first quarter. The pass came on a slow-developing flea-flicker, and Smith was caught trying to keep defensive end Jason Taylor out of the Eagles backfield.

McNabb scambled for 26 yards and a first down two plays later, but threw an interception to Miami's Jason Allen at the Dolphins 7-yard line to kill the drive.

Jay Feely missed a 47-yard field goal for the Dolphins with 11 seconds left in the opening period. The Dolphins drove 68 yards to the Eagles 29, but Feely's kick into the wind was well short.

Allen again intercepted McNabb deep in Miami territory early in the second quarter. Intended receiver Kevin Curtis broke of his route on a blitz read, but McNabb lofted a deep pass towards the goal line that Allen intercepted at the Dolphins 2 with 12:22 left in the period.

Kearse was inactive for today's game, just days after Thomas moved into the starting spot at left end.

Kearse was not listed on Philadelphia's injury report, but has been nursing a knee injury all season. He has had his knee drained twice this season, most recently before the Dallas game. Kearse injured the knee in Week 2 of 2006, had surgery and was placed on injured reserve.

Coach Andy Reid indicated Friday that Kearse would sit out to rest his knee and return later in the season.

Miami's Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Zach Thomas, also was inactive for today's due to migraine headaches. It is the fifth game Thomas has missed after sufferering a concussion.

Kearse, who is in the fourth season of an eight-year, $66 million contract he signed in 2004, did not play in the first quarter of Sunday's win over the Washington Redskins. He played only in goal-line situations for the rest of the afternoon. He has 12 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks for the season.

In addition to Kearse, quarterback Kevin Kolb, running back Tony Hunt, safety Marcus Paschal, guard Max Jean-Gilles, defensive tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen, guard Scott Young and defensive tackle Montae Reagor were inactive.

For the Dolphins, wide receiver Kerry Reed, running back Samkon Gado, defensive back Jereme Perry, defensive tackle Anthony Bryant, defensive end Rob Ninkovich and defensive end Matt Roth were inactive. Miami also placed safety Travares Tillman on injured reserve with a knee injury. His replacement on the roster, defensive back Tuff Harris, was also inactive.