Quarterback Michael Vick was asked at his locker on Thursday afternoon whether he had ever seen someone make not one, but two one-handed grabs in practice. That wasn't a first for Vick. But someone on the scout team? Now, that's a different story.

"I've never seen that," Vick said. "Let's hope that once he gets out there in a game he can make those same types of catches and I think he will."

Vick was referring to rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson, the sixth-round pick out of Washington State. Vick said that Gibson is playing the role of Saints wide receiver Marques Colston in practice this week. Whether Gibson will get the chance to actually play - as himself - this Sunday against the Saints, he said that he's not sure.

"I'm just going to practice hard and do the best that I can, so it gives me the best opportunity to get on the field," Gibson said.

Gibson led all of the Eagles receivers with 12 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in the preseason. He wasn't active for the season opener against Carolina, but when the Eagles had to release a player this week to add Jeff Garcia, it was veteran receiver Hank Baskett who was let go.

"Obviously, I think they drafted me for a reason," Gibson said. "I think they expect a lot of things out of me. The only thing I can do is practice hard and do what they ask. I'm getting better each and every day. I'm not where I want to be, but hopefully at some point I can."

While Gibson's catches caught Vick's eye, Gibson said that wide receivers coach David Culley wants him to be "physical" and a "hard player."

That's important since letting go of Baskett means that the tallest receiver on the team is Reggie Brown at 6-1.

"We all play bigger than we really are," Gibson said.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 7:10 p.m., September 17