Eagles Notes: The Eagles get good news on Michael Vick's rib injury

Michael Vick had to leave Monday's exhibition victory over the New England Patriots in the first quarter after taking a hard hit to his left rib cage. He will likely miss the Eagles' final two preseason games. (YONG KIM / Staff Photographer)

By Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: August 23, 2012

The Eagles and quarterback Michael Vick received good news on Tuesday when a magnetic resonance imaging exam and a CT scan revealed no broken bones or fractured cartilage in Vick's ribs, according to a team spokesman. The tests determined that Vick had bruises to the ribs and the soft tissue surrounding them.

Vick is unlikely to play in the final two preseason games but will be ready for the opener, according to a source close to the situation. The Eagles play their third preseason game Friday against the Cleveland Browns and conclude the preseason Aug. 30 against the New York Jets.

The Eagles open the regular season Sept. 9 against the Browns in Cleveland.

Vick had to leave Monday's 27-17 win over the New England Patriots in the first quarter after suffering a hard hit to his exposed left rib cage. X-rays during the game were negative, but the Eagles wanted to further examine their $100 million quarterback on Tuesday.

Asked if Vick wears a flak jacket, coach Andy Reid said that the quarterback wears protective gear under his jersey.

"We have a variety of flak jackets, the cumbersome ones and the ones that are a little more flexible," Reid said.

Vick's injury showed that the protective gear was either insufficient or inadequate. Even Reid admitted as much after the game.

"Whatever he had on didn't work," Reid said. "But listen, things happen."

Vick was unavailable to comment. He also suffered rib injuries in 2010 and 2011, his two seasons as the Eagles' starting quarterback. He missed three games each season.