Eagles RB Brian Westbrook has concussion; status up in the air for next week

Eagles RB Westbrook has concussion

LANDOVER, Md. — Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook left with a concussion in the first quarter of Monday night’s 27-17 victory over the Washington Redskins and will go through medical tests before his status for next week is determined.

“We’ll just see. We’ll see how he is. I’m not going to put him out there when he’s at risk,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

Reid added that he thinks Westbrook is “going to be all right.”

Westbrook’s was one of several injuries in the first half. Redskins tight end Chris Cooley broke his right ankle on the first play of the second quarter and will be out “for a while,” coach Jim Zorn said.

Westbrook was hurt when his helmet collided with linebacker London Fletcher’s right knee as Philadelphia’s leading rusher was dragged down at the end of a 5-yard run.

Westbrook remained on the ground, motionless, for several minutes. The officials shooed players away, allowing only Reid and Westbrook’s brother — Redskins cornerback Byron Westbrook — to hover nearby.

“As it went on, I didn’t see his legs moving, so I did get … concerned for his well-being. You don’t want anybody to be seriously injured on the football field,” Fletcher said. “I was just praying that he would move in his lower extremities.”

Eventually, Westbrook began to bend his legs. He was helped up, then led off the field, walking toward the locker room.

“It looked bad. Anytime a guy is just out like that and not responding, you don’t know what’s going on,” Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said. “We were praying.”

Cooley, who caught passes on the Redskins’ first two offensive plays, was carted off to the locker room after he was hurt.

Other Redskins injuries: Byron Westbrook (knee), linebacker H.B. Blades (knee) and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (sprained elbow).

Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson strained his right foot and went to get X-rays after scoring on a 67-yard reverse and a 57-yard catch. Philadelphia safety Macho Harris sprained an ankle, and kicker David Akers bruised his hand.