Eagles vets McNabb, Westbrook, Curtis to play

Coming off a bye week, it's back to business as usual for the Eagles' offense.

Donovan McNabb once again is the quarterback, following a two-game absence due to a fractured rib. Brian Westbrook will be lining up behind him in the backfield, after missing one game with an ankle sprain. And while wide receiver Kevin Curtis probably won't start, the knee injury that also kept him out against Kansas City 2 weeks ago has mended enough that he should at least get a pass or two aimed his way.

Their returns don't figure to hurt, although the Birds did score 34 points against the Chiefs without them. Of course, they also had 38 with them in the opener at Carolina. Even if one of their touchdowns came on a punt return, another on a fumble recovery. Obviously, you'd rather have your gun fully loaded. Yet either way, the Eagles probably aren't changing their approach all that much. Only enhancing the possibilities, as they prepare for Sunday's visit by winless Tampa Bay.

"I think, having been around these guys for a few years, I don't think it matters," said Brent Celek, who just became the first Eagles tight end to have consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Pete Retzlaff in 1965. "Whichever quarterback's out there, I've developed a relationship with both. They know where I'll be, and I know what they're going to do, on certain plays.

"That's always been the philosophy. We're pretty much doing the same stuff we've always done . . .

"Having [Westbrook] is huge. He can make plays, in the pass game and the run game. As a defense, you have to look at that, try to stop him. It's great to have all of them back. You can never have enough options."

Without them, Kevin Kolb showed he could make this offense work. Second-round draft pick LeSean McCoy averaged 4.2 yards on 20 carries. And top choice Jeremy Maclin - who like the others was making his second start - caught four balls.

They represent the future. Doesn't mean they can't be at worst a complementary part of the present. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg might even use Westbrook and McCoy in the same formation.

"It puts a little [more] pressure on the defense," he said. "The defense has to make choices, just by personnel. The things you can do are really endless.