Concussion Update; Patterson Fights Pneumonia

The Eagles had team head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder deliver what has become a weekly staple, his Friday concussion recovery update. The news was only slightly encouraging for quarterback Michael Vick and running back LeSean McCoy; Burkholder said both are at Phase 4 of their recoveries, with issues blocking them from completing the five-stage process. Didn't sound like those issues would be resolved in the next several days, which is relevant in that the Eagles play Thursday against the Bengals after visiting Tampa this weekend.

Burkholder also discussed defensive tackle Mike Patterson, hospitalized with what the team believes is viral pneumonia. Patterson is stable, Burkholder said, but he will not accompany the team to Tampa.

Burkholder said Vick still can't pass the imPACT concussion test because of a slight variance in reaction time. He said he continues to work with Vick on eye-tracking exercises, and Vick is making progress. He said the fact that Vick has made substantial progress since his Nov. 11 concussion leads him to think Vick won't be at this stage indefinitely.

Burkholder said McCoy is able to test normally at times, but still has symptoms, such as fatigue, particularly after high periods of activity, and in the evening. When tested during a symptomatic time, he does not test normally, Burkholder said. "Because of that, I had him evaluated" by league concussion experts in Pittsburgh this week, Burkholder said.

Burkholder said both players were able to run a series of 15 100-yard dashes today with no problem. "Both of those guys are doing activity at an extremely high level," he said.

Both players took imPACT tests Friday, Burkholder said, but he didn't have the results.

Patterson has played in just the last five games after undergoing offseason surgery to fix tangled blood vessels in his brain. Burkholder said the pneumonia is unrelated to Patterson's previous problem. Taking Patterson out of the mix this weekend means only Trent Cole has played for returning d-line coach Tommy Brasher and can help younger players with Brasher's scheme.

"He just got sick and he ended up with pneumonia," Burkholder said.

Eagles coach Andy Reid said that as expected, safety Kurt Coleman will miss the Tampa game with a sternum injury. Colt Anderson will start in his place.

Also, reserve offensive lineman Nate Menkin, who has not appeared in a game, definitely won't appear in this one after suffering a throat cartilage injury in Friday's practice, Reid said.