Vick to play against Jets in the Eagles’ final preseason game; could see more time at QB

Vick to play in Eagles’ final preseason game

PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick will play in the Eagles’ final preseason game, and might even take some snaps as a conventional quarterback.

How much Vick plays Thursday night against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands has yet to be determined.

Vick was in for six wildcat plays in Thursday’s game against Jacksonville, throwing four times, running once and handing the ball off to rookie running back LeSean McCoy once. He came onto the field for what would have been a seventh play, but called time out, and then was not on the field after the break in action.

It was his first time Vick had played in over two years. He served 18 months in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring.

This week will be his first road game with the Eagles. It could also mark his first time under center in the West Coast offense of Eagles head coach Andy Reid.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Reid said. “There’s a chance of that.”

During the 33-32 win over Jacksonville at Lincoln Financial Field, Vick came in and out of the game. In all but one of his six plays, starting quarterback Donovan McNabb stayed on the field and lined up as a wide receiver.

In seemed to cause a disruption to the offensive rhythm and the plan was shelved midway through the second quarter.

“I think that’s all part of this, just kind of getting used to it and working through it,” Reid said. “I think, from a coaching standpoint, from a player’s standpoint and so on, there was a lot of hoopla around him getting into the game. I think that will settle down once we get playing in season games and everybody will just play.”

Reid rarely uses his starters in the fourth preseason game, which means McNabb in all likelihood will get the night off. That leaves backups Kevin Kolb, A.J. Feeley and Vick to split up the four quarters against the Jets.

“Again, I’m just going to see how he does this week,” Reid said of Vick. “How he progresses. He didn’t have any setbacks in the game. So I just want to see how he does this week.”

Reid liked what he saw of Vick against the Jaguars.

“I thought he did well,” the coach said. “He threw the ball well when he threw it. When he ran, he outran the defensive end, which was good to see.

“I thought it was good to get him back out there just for the speed of the game. He came out healthy. You always worry about that the first game back. I thought he handled himself well. He seemed poised, made some good reads. That’s a start.”

Thursday could be the last time the Eagles see Vick in uniform for a while. Commissioner Roger Goodell can wait until Week Six to reinstate him to the team’s roster.