Parker will miss his second game with a hip flexor.


The Eagles' final injury report of the week came out Wednesday morning, and in total it includes seven players: Jorrick Calvin (back), Nick Cole (knee), Trevard Lindley (knee), and LeSean McCoy (shoulder) are all probable to play. Riley Cooper (knee) and Asante Samuel (knee) are questionable, and Juqua Parker (hip) has been ruled out.

So far this season, every player listed as probable has played. So there's no reason to worry about Calvin, Cole, Lindley or, most importantly, McCoy. They will all be suited up and good to go.

Parker, as we expected after not practicing all week, is out. But Cooper, who also did not practice all week, is only questionable. He's not expected to play, but it's looking like he will be a game-time decision.

Samuel is the key here. He practiced all week on a limited basis and, although he's listed as questionable, he does expect to play. The "questionable" listing means that, like Cooper, Samuel will be a game-time decision.

With Parker out, Brandon Graham will make his second consecutive start and his fifth of the season. Graham had a decent game against the Chicago Bears as he pulled Jay Cutler down once, but he's going to have to get pressure much more consistently if the defense is going to slow down the Houston Texans' passing offense.

If Cooper cannot go, head coach Andy Reid has already said that Chad Hall will get the nod. Hall has been active for a couple games this season while guys were banged up, and he's lined up at receiver and running back. Hall can also return punts in a pinch, so having him on the field gives Reid flexibility in a lot of different areas.

If Samuel winds up missing his second game, we will once again see Joselio Hanson. Hanson got abused by the Bears receiving corps, so seeing him lined up against the much bigger Kevin Walter or Andre Johnson is enough to give Eagles fans nightmares.

Hopefully Samuel is ready to go and Hanson can take back his natural spot in the slot. With Samuel and Dimitri Patterson on the outside and Hanson in the nickel, they should at least be able to contain Walter, Johnson, and Matt Schaub.

The Eagles play the Texans Thursday night on NFL Network at 8:20PMEST.
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Samuel's return will be vital to stopping the Texans.


Asante Samuel, although limited, returned to practice with the Eagles Monday. Samuel claims via some barely comprehensible tweets that he will be ready to go when the Eagles take on the Houston Texans Thursday night on NFL Network.

When asked about Samuel's status, head coach Andy Reid was, as always, apprehensive.

"We'll see," Reid said. "He worked today. We'll just see how he does after sleeping on it and how it feels tomorrow."

After watching the Eagles' secondary struggle against Jay Cutler and his sub-par receivers, missing Samuel would be devastating against an elite passing attack in Houston.

There was hope that the Texans' passing attack would take a hit and that Andre Johnson would be suspended for his fight with Cortland Finnegan, but we've now learned he'll be on the field Thursday after just paying a fine.

If Johnson is matched up on anyone but Samuel, it's going to be another long day. Joselio Hanson, as we've discussed before, is a very good nickel corner but has no business ever playing on the outside. He couldn't stick with Johnny Knox or Earl Bennett, so there's no hope he could stick with Johnson.

But with Samuel on the field to defend Johnson, Dimitri Patterson matched up on Kevin Walter, and Hanson on Jacoby Jones with help over the top from Nate Allen and Quintin Mikell, things start looking up.

Tuesday's practice will be a great barometer of whether or not Samuel will play. In this shortened week, Tuesday essentially becomes Friday and Wednesday becomes the walk-through day (normally a Saturday).

If Samuel is on the field Tuesday, he will likely play. If not, there's almost no chance.

In other injury news...

Wide receiver Riley Cooper and defensive end Juqua Parker missed practice entirely on Monday. Reid said that should Cooper not be able to go, Chad Hall would be active as the team's fourth receiver.

Brandon Graham will likely get the start once again whether or not Parker plays. But at this point, it's looking like Parker will once again be unavailable.
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Andre Johnson is somewhere on this list, but where? Oh, there!


A lot of folks will claim that wide receiver is the most overrated position on the field. Not just the players, but the position itself.

They say this because of the success that was had before the wide receiver was even a position on the depth chart. Which, of course, is true.

However in today's NFL, the wide receiver is just as vital to a team's success as any other position on the field. Want proof? Ask a guy like Donovan McNabb about his receivers during his career, then ask guys like Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner.

Vast difference in the caliber of talent, and a difference in the rings. A combined three rings between Manning and Warner, and none for McNabb.

Receivers today must be fast. It's part of the job description now-a-days with cornerbacks getting more and more athletic each year. Guys like Jerry Rice and Cris Carter got away with only decent speed because of their phenomenal route-running.

Today, that may not work so well.

Just ask these guys.



5. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers)

85 games started, 509 games started, 7,348 yards, 14.4 YPR, 43 TDs, 42 carries, 273 yards, 2 TDs, 4-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro

At only 5'9 and 185 pounds, Smith has effectively destroyed the idea that a receiver must be 6'2 in order to be successful.

His speed and leaping ability make him one of the trickiest receivers to cover. Most corners will have a size advantage, but once he leaves his feet his can make himself seven feet tall without really trying.

Even in what was a run-first offense for the Panthers this past season, Smith was able to gain over 1,400 yards on only 78 receptions, an incredible 18.2 yards per reception.

However with only eight, seven, and six touchdowns over the past three years respectively, he doesn't get into the endzone quite enough to be any higher on this list.



4. Randy Moss (New England Patriots)

164 games started, 843 receptions, 13,201 yards, 15.7 YPR, 135 TDs, 25 carries, 159 yards, 6-time Pro Bowler and 4-time All-Pro

Moss came into the league and immediately lit it up.

1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns earned him rookie of the year honors, beating out the great Peyton Manning.

Those numbers of course came off the arm of the great Randall Cunningham. When Cunningham stepped out of the light, he was replaced with Daunte Culpepper who, let's not forget, was very good during his time in Minnesota.

He produced very well in Minnesota, but was unheard of in Oakland, so much so that many people figured his career was over. That was, until the Patriots came calling.

Then, with Tom Brady throwing him the ball, broke Jerry Rice's single-season touchdown record* on the way to helping the Patriots to the Super Bowl.

The point is, Moss only produces when he has a great quarterback throwing to him. Now most will say that the case is the same for any wide receiver. Not true, as I would reference you to Herman Moore.

Moore went to four consecutive Pro Bowls and three consecutive All-Pro teams with the likes of Scott Mitchell and Dave Kreig throwing to him. Also, to stick with the Lions theme, let's not forget Calvin Johnson (foreshadowing alert).

That being said, when Moss is on, he's one of the best in the game.

*Rice set his record in 1987, a strike-shortened 12-game season. He had 22 touchdown receptions in those 12 games. Moss had 23 in 16 games.



3. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)

26 games started, 126 receptions, 2,087 yards, 16.6 YPR, 16 TDs, 7 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD

It's unbelievable to think that this kid missed the Pro Bowl last year.

In only his second season as a starter, Johnson was able to haul in 78 receptions for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Did I mention that he played on the winless Detroit Lions team?

Through the entire mess that was the record-setting 2008 Detroit Lions, Calvin Johnson was not only a bright-spot of the team, but of the entire league.

Yes, they had to throw a lot because they were always (and I mean always) down almost immediately, but they still needed someone to catch the ducks that the carousel of quarterbacks were throwing wildly into the air.

He was always there to bring it down, and probably saved Dan Orlovsky's career by making him look a whole lot better to the Texans than what he actually is.

It's pretty safe to say that this kid is going to do some spectacular things before his time is over.



2. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)

76 games started, 426 receptions, 5,975 yards, 14 YPR, 46 TDs, 3-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

Up until last year, Fitzgerald may have been the most underrated player in the game, but that is no longer the case.

He put on a show for everyone with his record-setting postseason, showing the country that he can carry a team at the receiver position.

His leaping ability, and his overall ability to get the ball at its highest point is unmatched by any receiver currently in the league, and perhaps ever in the league. Not to mention the fact that he's superb at running after the catch and making guys miss in open space.

The combination of size (6'3 225), speed, leaping ability, agility, and football intelligence make him incredibly dangerous, and a headache for defensive coordinators and defenders alike.

Expect to see this guy in the Pro Bowl year after year after year after year after...



1. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)

86 games started, 486 receptions, 6,379 yards, 13.1 YPR, 33 TDs, 3-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

While Larry Fitzgerald has Anquan Boldin to take some pressure off of him, Andre Johnson has always only had average guys across from him.

Guys like Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones are fine receivers, but they're not Boldin, and they don't scare a defense like Boldin will.

Also, while Matt Schaub is a good quarterback, he's no Kurt Warner. Not to mention the fact that Johnson has never had Schaub for an entire season and performed at a high level even with first-round bust David Carr throwing the passes.

Apart from 2007 where he missed seven games, Johnson has been able to stay healthy and play at a consistently high level, even without a consistent quarterback.

Johnson is great at catching the ball in traffic, as well as going up and getting the ball at its highest point. In terms of pure strength, he may be the most powerful receiver, which is why he's so good at tearing the ball away from defenders.

Look for this guy to explode this year. Probably somewhere around 110 catches, 1,500 yards, and around 15 touchdowns.
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