Dawkins out

Brian Dawkins said earlier this week thatb he expected to play, and he was sort of paired all week with Brian Westbrook as important players who were banged up but would almost certainly play.

Westbrook is in, but Dawk is inactive.

The Eagles' All-Pro free safety suffered a "neck stinger" last week making a tackle against the Redskins. Given the NfL's tougher stance on concussions, it makes you think that's what he might have. The Eagles didn't list him with a concussion, but I remember the play where he got hurt, and his reaction was consistent.

So Quintin Mikell gets the start this afternoon. I'm not sure this is as devastating a thing as it might seem to be. Q is a playmaker, and Dawkins has not set the world on fire in the first two weeks. What you really miss is his experience and instincts, making minute adjustments to the defense midstream.

The loss of Dawkins is certainly not the blow that the loss of Westbrook would have been.