Marcus Hayes: Injuries could test Eagles' mettle

THERE IS "banged up," and then there is "thin," and then, "ridiculous."

The Eagles are at "ridiculous."

Already without concussed Brian Westbrook, who is likely to miss a third straight game and his fifth of six, the Eagles will visit Atlanta on Sunday further undermanned.

This goes beyond

Atlanta. Little DeSean Jackson left the Eagles' win Sunday with a concussion. Given the NFL's recent embarrassed, alarmist reaction to the concussion issue, Jackson almost certainly won't play this weekend. After that, all bets are off.

So, no Westbrook. No Jackson.

And, while tight end Brent Celek probably will play, the sprained left thumb that transformed him from the team's top receiver into Jason Dunn likely won't heal enough to make him a consistent threat.

Celek said after Sunday's game that his remarkably good hands could not function late in the game. That was apparent.

That means Weapons 1, 2 and 3 are out, or limited.

And that means the Eagles' chances at an eighth win are severely limited . . . for the next 3 weeks, the earliest those significant players are likely to return at full strength.

The next 3 weeks wins them the division, or secures a wild-card berth. Or not.

They have a raft of injuries - nagging, serious and really serious. Westbrook complained of headaches after a noncontact workout last week, but this has been a season largely played without him. Backup LeSean McCoy has played with promise. So has rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin, alongside Jackson.

Promise goes only so far.

McCoy and Maclin have logged major minutes lately. They're due to hit a wall. They also will be focal points from now on, too.

The mere presence of Jackson, with seven touchdowns of at least 35 yards this season, alters everything a defense does. A team's inability to defend a healthy Celek makes Donovan McNabb comfortable and makes midrange passing possible. And ever since Westbrook became a starter, defenses have schemed to limit him.

The saving grace might be that Atlanta's defense cannot defend the pass, the run, or third downs. The offense isn't terrific, either, and it's banged up, too. Second-year quarterback Matt Ryan left Sunday's game with a toe injury and will not play against the Eagles. Top running back Michael Turner aggravated an ankle injury.