Eagles Notes: Andy Reid: Eagles can turn it around in 2013

Andy Reid assembled the Eagles roster that is 4-11 and has matched the most losses since Reid became head coach in 1999. But the coach said he still believes that the core on this roster can be a contender.

"We started off 3-1, so we started off OK," Reid said. "I know we weren't beating teams by 20 points, 21 points. I understand that. But you're winning the game, so you find a way to win the game at this level."

The NFL is full of teams that have turned their fortunes around in one season. The Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and Minnesota Vikings had losing seasons last year. Two already have clinched playoff berths, and the other two are still in contention.

"You know that there's a lot of parity at this level," Reid said. "I think, obviously, the team is closer than what people might think, and that's a great thing for the Philadelphia Eagles."

Reid is expected by many to be fired after Sunday's season finale against the New York Giants. He would not address whether he could motivate these players to become contenders next season.

"By answering that, then that means that I've lost the team," Reid said. "So I don't feel that way about this football team. I think the guys are playing hard. We've come up short."

Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and linebacker Mychal Kendricks, the Eagles' top two rookies, suffered concussions on Sunday. There's no word on whether either will be cleared to play against the Giants.

"We'll take them through the process and the procedures that you go through and just see how it works out," Reid said.

Wide receiver Jason Avant suffered a slight hamstring strain, but he is expected to practice Wednesday.

Rookie running back Bryce Brown was limited to four carries on Sunday because LeSean McCoy stayed fresh in his first game back from a concussion. Reid said before the game that McCoy would not have a full workload, but McCoy wanted to return to action whenever Reid took him out.

"He was very excited about playing," Reid said. "I kept him out to where I thought he was fresh and then put him back in. [I] gave him an opportunity to get a blow in there, and he seemed to hold up pretty good."