LeSean McCoy will return to the starting lineup this Sunday against the Washington Redskins, head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. It will be McCoy's first game since he suffered a concussion during the Eagles' last game against the Redskins four and a half weeks ago. But, Reid said, given the recent emergence of Bryce Brown and the fact that McCoy is returning from injury, the Pro Bowl running back's workload will be monitored closer than usual.
"I'm going to keep a close eye on him," Reid said. "It won't be a normal workload like you'd see during the season. He's coming off an injury, I understand that, so I'll keep a close eye on it. He'll work in as the starter and then Bryce has some valuable experience that he's gained over the last few games here so he'll be in there. Dion (Lewis), he'll be up too."
Reid said the decision to plug McCoy back into the lineup was an easy one for both he and McCoy.
"Listen, we're all part of the team," said Reid. "We're not a hierarchy that way, that's not how it works. If you're healthy you play. LeSean understands that. Our team understands that. That's how you go about business. LeSean wouldn't want it any other way and that's how I feel about it."
Meanwhile, the Eagles' fourth running back, Chris Polk, is expected to take the majority of the reps at the fullback position this week with Stanley Havili hampered by a hamstring injury that Reid said will make Havili "a stretch" to play on Sunday. Polk has been inactive for the last six games because of a toe injury. Rookie Emil Igwenagu will also work at fullback, though he is also charged with being the No. 2 tight end this week with Clay Harbor on injured reserve.
As for the quarterback position, Reid said that right now Michael Vick is the No. 3 quarterback.
"Right now, he's the third quarterback," Reid said. "If we played today he'd be the third quarterback. I just want to get him back kind of in the swing and get him going. Right now, he feels great.
"I want to make sure that's all set as we ease him back in."
There will also be a lineup change at safety, where Colt Anderson will start for the third consecutive week. On Sunday though, Anderson will be paired with Kurt Coleman, who is returning from a sternum injury, rather than .
"Colt came in and we asked him to fill in at the line of scrimmage and be a physical player there and he did a nice job of that," Reid said. "Right now Kurt is a little bit more stout in there (than Allen) and we need that. We need that this week."
Reid also noted that tight end Brent Celek (concussion) and offensive lineman Evan Mathis (ankle) will practice Wednesday and are expected to play on Sunday.
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