Reid keeps Westbrook's status in air

As long as Brian Westbrook can flash a few glimpses of the old Brian Westbrook, the availability of the Eagles running back on game days will gain the attention of opposing teams.

While there is little reason to believe Westbrook, who suffered a concussion just five days ago, will be cleared to play the Giants tomorrow at home, he was listed as questionable yesterday and will be a game-time decision, according to coach Andy Reid.

And so goes another installment in the coaching cat-and-mouse game of revealing too much.

"These things take time, and they're all different, so we'll just see how it works here," Reid said.

Westbrook hadn't practiced all week, and yesterday was no different. He was supposed to begin some aerobic exercising, but Reid said the team was awaiting results from another neurological test. A team spokesman did not respond to a question as to whether Westbrook was eventually cleared to exercise.

A workout yesterday would have been the first step toward a possible return. Reid said that Westbrook wouldn't have to participate in today's walk-through in order to play and that pregame warm-ups would suffice. The oft-injured running back has been a game-time decision before and still ended up dressing. However, he has never suffered a concussion before, and the team said it would remain cautious.

"As long as he's OKd and he's cleared, then I think you're OK," Reid said "These are experts you are talking about that are looking at these things. I know he wants to play. We have to listen to the doctors, both Brian and myself and [trainer] Rick [Burkholder]."

Westbrook was knocked unconscious in the first quarter of the Eagles' victory over the Redskins on Monday night. Burkholder said that the running back suffered retroactive amnesia and had a lingering mild headache as late as Wednesday. Asked yesterday if the headache had subsided, Reid said, "I think he's feeling pretty good right now. We'll see how things go here."

Westbrook watched his teammates, including his backup, LeSean McCoy, conduct their final preparations for tomorrow's pivotal NFC East showdown. After practice, Westbrook declined to answer a question about his headache but did say that he was "feeling good."

The 30-year-old running back has had an eventful year. He had two off-season surgeries - one to clean out his left knee, the other to remove bone fragments from his right ankle - and missed all of training camp. He did not play in the preseason but did return in time for the season opener. He got off to a slow start and sat out against the Chiefs in Week 3 with an ankle sprain. But he had his best game two weeks later against the Raiders, rushing for 50 yards on six carries and catching nine passes for 91 yards.

In New York, they're still preparing for Westbrook, although Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that McCoy is a similar type back. Coughlin was asked by New York reporters yesterday if he thought the rookie brought more speed than Westbrook.

"I would not say that," he said. "I really wouldn't. Because I don't care what Westbrook's speed is, he is fast enough for whatever."

Some of Westbrook's best performances have come against the Giants. Of course, there was his game-winning punt return for a touchdown in 2003. But even as recently as last December, when he ran for 131 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries and caught six passes for 72 yards and a score, he has been a game changer in one of the league's best rivalries.

While Westbrook's injury could hinder the offense, there is good news along the line. For the second straight game, the regular fivesome will start. Left guard Todd Herremans returned last week after missing the first five games of the season with a stress fracture in his foot.

Herremans, right guard Nick Cole, and center Jamaal Jackson played most of last season in the middle of the line. Their continuing familiarization could help with a running game that has been lackluster. Tackles Jason Peters and Winston Justice have started every game this season, although Peters suffered a knee sprain two weeks ago.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb has been sacked nine times the last two weeks. The Giants boast the NFL's top-ranked defense and are looking for payback after the Eagles won both meetings - in the regular season and the divisional playoff - at the Meadowlands last season.

"Right now, it's just time for us to start peaking," Jackson said. "We're done with experimenting with such and such, and 'This line needs to gel.' We don't have time to gel. We have to go now."