NASHVILLE -- Following the Eagles' 37-19 loss to the Tennessee Titans, head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Michael Vick will be the starting quarterback when the team returns to practice from the upcoming bye week.

Vick, who suffered broken rib cartilage in the Week 4 loss to the Washington Redskins, was the third quarterback on Sunday, as he dressed for the first time since that Redskins game. Vick's desire to get on the field was obvious Sunday when he actually incurred a sideline penalty for stepping onto the field following a Quintin Mikell interception in the first quarter. Moving forward, Vick said that he'll continue to play the exciting brand of football that earned him the starting role, but he'll make a concerted effort to limit the hits he takes.

"Same Michael Vick, same style of play," Vick said after the game. "I just have to play with better smarts and not take the unnecessary hits that I can avoid and just try to play the game effectively and aggressively."

On the season, Vick has thrown for 799 yards on 61.5 percent passing for six touchdowns and no interceptions. He's also rushed for 187 yards at a 7.2 yards-per-carry clip. Those are the kind of numbers that earned him the NFC Offensive Player of the Month award in September.

"The important thing (over the next two weeks) is to continue to heal and get healthy and make sure that I'm ready to go," Vick said.

Vick added that he has an important lesson to learn while waiting the long two weeks before the team's next game, a home game against the Indianapolis Colts.

"I really don't know how to slide, but I'll make sure I get down," Vick said. "Somehow, some way over the next two weeks, I'll figure out what my method of protecting myself is going to be. But I won't play reckless like I did previously."

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 6:15 p.m., October 24