There will be a number of viewers who will keep an eye on tonight's game between the Eagles and the Patriots to see the progress of quarterback Tom Brady. As many of you know, Brady tore the ACL in his left knee during last year's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brady has expressed a strong desire to start tonight's preseason game and all signs point towards that happening.

Donovan McNabb went through the same injury in 2006 when he tore the ACL in his right knee during a game against the Titans in November of that year. Both McNabb and Brady are right-handed quarterbacks so the fact that each player injured a different leg makes a world of difference. McNabb's injury happened to his plant leg. Brady's happened to his leg where he balances and follows through.

Brady is 11 months removed from the injury where as McNabb was nine months removed when he played in the Eagles' second preseason game in 2007 against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field. In his return, McNabb was 6-of-9 for 138 yards and a 109.7 QB rating. McNabb played four drives and the Eagles scored 10 points. On McNabb's first play, he faked a handoff to Brian Westbrook, saw the pocket around him collapse and threw a 27-yard completion to Kevin Curtis. McNabb also had a 58-yard completion to tight end Matt Schobel.

It will be interesting to see how Brady does in his return. And whether the Eagles' front four - without Pro Bowl end Trent Cole - can generate a pass rush to force him to squirm in the pocket.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 4:45 p.m., August 13