Center Jamaal Jackson can appreciate what Shawn and Stacy Andrews almost had this season. Jackson's brother, Jervonte, was a defensive tackle who was with the Eagles in training camp.

While Jervonte didn't make the team, it looked like the two Andrews brothers would get to play alongside each other on the same offensive line. That's not going to happen this season now that Shawn Andrews is on Injured Reserve because of his back injury. Even if the Eagles were to make the playoffs, Andrews couldn't return.

"I feel bad for him because he fought back," Jackson said. "In the position that he's in, you don't get to play next to your brother in the NFL often. I think he really, really wanted to come out and be here for his brother first and foremost, and for the team."

While it may not happen in 2009, Andrews' teammates have faith that he will return.

"He's going to get stronger and he'll be back," Stacy Andrews said. "I know without a doubt that he wants to keep playing. I want him to also. Why wouldn't he? We're both here."

And his teammates believe that it's Andrews' back that's keeping him off the field, not a lack of desire to play.

"I think he still has Pro Bowl capability in him. You just hope that thing works out for him as far as the whole back injury goes," Jackson said.

"I can see the pain when he gets up, sits down, all of that," Stacy Andrews said. "It's something that he's going to have to deal with and get it stronger."

The chance to play with Shawn was also enticing for Jason Peters. The two mauled people as teammates and roommates at Arkansas.

"I had high expectations to play with my old teammate," Peters said. "It didn't work out. Things happen. I'm just going to go forward and try to win a championship."

Now, the offensive line can focus on Winston Justice being the man at the top of the depth chart at right tackle. Jackson said that Justice has become a "fine offensive lineman" after the infamous Giants game in 2007 where all of the linemen should have been held accountable.

"He got that stigma on him from that one game. Let's not take away from what happened. We gave up 12 sacks that game," Jackson said. "It wasn't all his fault. There were a lot of things other guys could have done a lot better. You can't place that responsibility on one person."

Another player who might be out Sunday is quarterback Donovan McNabb. If Kevin Kolb starts, Peters said that he doesn't expect the game plan to change from the offensive line perspective.

"I think he's going to do well. We just have to go out there and step our game up. You can't really replace a Donovan, but Kolb's going to come in and do his thing," Peters said. "We have to step our game up another notch."

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 6:33 p.m., September 16