So much for waiting around to see when Shawn Andrews is healthy enough to play. The Eagles placed Andrews on Injured Reserve, ending his 2009 season. It also likely raises question marks about Andrews and his future in the game.

It was reported that Andrews received a report from back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins late in the summer that said Andrews had no structural damage in his back, but Andrews was unable to overcome back pain to get on the field in the days leading up to the opening game of the regular season in Carolina. Andrews missed the entire training camp and the preseason after tweaking his surgically-repaired back during the conditioning tests upon reporting to Lehigh University and didn't start practicing again until just before the final preseason game against the Jets.

He appeared, as of a week ago, ready to play right tackle against Carolina. But Andrews missed practice on the Thursday before the game and then was ruled out for the game on Friday. Clearly, head coach Andy Reid felt the team couldn't wait any longer for Andrews to get healthy and placed him on IR on Tuesday morning.

The Eagles needed to make room on the roster for newly-signed quarterback Jeff Garcia and Andrews was the one who went -- to IR.

"It's disappointing to lose any player for the entire season, but we have full confidence in the other linemen we have on this roster to help this team succeed," said Reid in a statement. "We wish Shawn all the best as he recovers and rehabilitates from this injury."

Now you wonder when and if and how Andrews fits into the long-term picture here. He played just two games in 2008 before suffering a back injury in the first half of the game against Dallas. The Eagles waited all season to see if Andrews could recover in time for the playoffs, but the patience was not rewarded and Andrews ultimately had surgery.

Now, with injuries dotting the early-season roster and with a glut of decisions to be made, the Eagles decided to put Andrews on the shelf rather than cut from the current roster.

Winston Justice started at right tackle on Sunday and is now, clearly, the starting right tackle for this football team.

-- Posted by Dave Spadaro, 9:51, September 15