Les Bowen: Further review: Eagles' wideout corps looking thin

WHAT'S THAT? DeSean Jackson might not play this week because of a concussion? Well, guess it's time for the Eagles to see what Brandon Gib ... oh, yeah. Traded Gibson to the Rams for Will Witherspoon, didn't they? No problem, let's just rummage around the practice-squad bag of tricks for that Danny Amend ... Amendola too, really? Rams again? Thank goodness the Eagles still have Hank Bask ... oops. Baskett got cut, back when they added Mike Vick to the active roster, and he was picked up by the Colts, you say?

Well, darn. OK, how about this - the Eagles opted not to put Kevin Curtis on IR when he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 24. That must mean they expect him to return and contribute. It's been 5 weeks now, so I'm guessing we'll see Kev ...

"Curtis isn't ready," Andy Reid said yesterday. "Curtis will be listed as out this week."

So, the master plan, assuming no DJax, would be to start Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant, with Reggie Brown(!) as the third guy. Coming off the bench would be ... ?

Right now, nobody. Can you go into a game that way? Don't think so. Unless Reid plans to play Vick at wide receiver, where he has never practiced, one of two things seems likely. Either Jackson is going to play (and I don't see how they could really know that right now), or there's a roster move coming.

Are they going to IR Curtis, at long last? Doesn't seem likely. They've stuck with him this long. Also unlikely would be bringing in a wideout from somewhere else who doesn't know the offense. Could you afford to, say, jettison corner Geoffrey Pope if you're feeling better about your secondary situation? That would give you a spot to use for practice-squad wideout Jordan Norwood, the rookie from Penn State.

There isn't that much maneuvering room elsewhere on the roster. Don't see axing P.J. Hill until Brian Westbrook returns. Jeremiah Trotter looked like a luxury a few weeks ago, but clearly isn't now. Tough decision.

Developing story lines

 

* Doesn't sound as if Akeem Jordan (knee) is likely to return this week against Atlanta. I still say, play Tracy White at weakside linebacker and move Will Witherspoon back to the middle, where he was much better. Regardless, the Birds are going to need Jordan back pretty soon; this defense is hanging on by its fingernails.

* This is the final week for the Joselio Hanson suspension. Worth noting that if it had gone into effect right after he'd lost his appeal, Oct. 27, he'd be back by now.