Head coach Andy Reid said Monday that he expects to get cornerback Asante Samuel and defensive end Juqua Parker back at practice this week after both have missed the last two games due to injury.
The league leader in interceptions, Samuel hurt his knee in Week 11 against New York and will be a welcome addition to a secondary that's allowed six touchdown passes in his absence. Parker's five sacks are second on the team, as are his seven quarterback hurries. Both veteran starters will be expected to bolster a defense that has two tough road games ahead against very productive offenses.
"I think they will (practice)," Reid said on his weekly radio show. "They're both getting better, so I think they'll be out there and ready to go for practice."
Right tackle Winston Justice, however, is still questionable for Sunday's game with a hyperextended knee. Reid said Monday that Justice "is doing better, (he's) not all the way back but he's getting better each day." If Justice can't play, King Dunlap is a candidate to replace him. Dunlap started two games this season (Atlanta, at Tennessee) at left tackle and performed well in both of them.
With so many NFC teams in the playoff hunt this season, it's entirely possible that the Eagles will need to win the NFC East to assure themselves a spot in postseason play. But with three of the four remaining games against NFC East teams, and having already beaten the Giants once, the Eagles have complete control of their own destiny. Simply put, if the Eagles beat the Cowboys twice and the Giants in New York they will win the division.
Reid knows the scenario, but the Cowboys currently have his undivided attention.
"It's important that you focus in on each week and that you don't look ahead at all," Reid said. "We have no reason to, so we're tunneled in on the Cowboys and that's all we care about right now. They're playing great football."
-- Posted by Josh Goldman, 6:15 p.m., December 6
