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Eagles lost more than game, playoff hopes, McNabb

Sunday`s loss to the Tennessee Titans has set the Philadelphia Eagles back by more than just another game. The 31-13 loss put the Eagles at 5-5, a game behind both the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants in the NFC East. Their playoff aspirations have also suffered a blow with the loss of quarterback Donovan McNabb, out for the remainder of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee.

The quarterback will turn 30 on November 25, and has played superbly so far in the season, with a rating of 95.5, 18 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions thrown. But an injury that sidelines him for the third time in five years may just be a sign that his best days are behind him. In 2002 McNabb missed the final six games of the season. Then in 2005 he missed as many as nine.

Swelling will keep McNabb away from the operation room for 2-3 weeks. He will then undergo surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The rehabilitation period to follow the surgery will last 8-10 months, and might be difficult to recover from and return to form. For the immediate future, Eagles` Coach Andy Reid is expected to announce Jeff Garcia or A.J. Feeley as starters for Sunday`s game at Indianapolis.