Danny Watkins

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN play in front of 70,000-plus spectators every week, with millions more watching on TV. But unless they're being flagged for a penalty or miss a block that allows their quarterback to get his brains scrambled, they rarely get noticed. That's especially true on a bad team like the Eagles. When our attention has turned to their injury-ravaged offensive line this season, it has usually been to check out the latest misadventures of King Dunlap or Demetress Bell or Danny Watkins.

Here are some observations and ruminations about Sunday night's Eagles-Cowboys game: ARLINGTON, Texas - Bryce Brown's rushing has been a revelation the last two games, but some of the credit for all those yards has to go to the Eagles' offensive line. The addition of Jake Scott seems to have made a big difference. With the veteran in at right guard instead of Danny Watkins, the unit has opened some mammoth-sized holes for Brown. And the rookie running back has wasted little time hitting them.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and center Dallas Reynolds both started Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys despite being listed as questionable. Cox missed practice Wednesday because of a bruised tailbone and was absent Thursday and Friday because of a death in his family. Cox rejoined the team in North Texas on Saturday. He left the game in the second quarter after he reinjured his tailbone. Cox was taken to the locker room for examination but started the second half.

Nick Foles UP -  The rookie quarterback had his best game as a starter. Foles stood in early and took a big hit before he connected with Brent Celek. He made smart decisions, and he didn't turn the ball over. The kid may have a future.   Bryce Brown UP -  Brown became the first Eagles rookie running back to run for more than 100 yards in his first two career starts since Charlie Garner accomplished the feat in 1994, but his fourth-quarter fumble killed off the Eagles' chances.

Eagles center Dallas Reynolds returned to practice on Friday, an encouraging sign for his readiness to play Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Reynolds is listed as questionable after missing the previous two practices with a sprained ankle. Evan Mathis prepared to start at center. "We'll just see how he does here in the next few hours after practice," coach Andy Reid said on Friday. If Reynolds plays, Danny Watkins would again be the odd man out. The 2011 first-round pick has been practicing at left guard this week in case Mathis must play center.

JASON KELCE said Thursday he's tried to help Evan Mathis with "little technique things here or there - assignment things in certain situations. " If you're keeping score at home, Kelce began the season as the Eagles' center, a pretty good one, at that. He tore an ACL in the second game. His replacement was Dallas Reynolds, who sprained his ankle Monday night against Carolina. So, left guard Mathis, the emergency center, is expected to start at Dallas Sunday night. It's not often you get down to your third-line center, but that's where the Eagles are. (I made a joke about winning faceoffs and killing penalties; Mathis didn't get it. Danny Watkins would have laughed, but he's almost never at his locker when reporters are around.)

Michael Vick underwent another Impact test Wednesday afternoon, but the Eagles did not reveal the results. The Eagles quarterback has failed to reach baseline in previous tests and will not be cleared to return from a Nov. 11 concussion until he passes. On Tuesday, coach Andy Reid said that Vick remained in Phase 4 of the Eagles' five-phase protocol, which involves football-related exercise and weightlifting. Along with passing the Impact test and clearing Phase 5, which involves light contact, Vick must be examined and cleared by a team doctor and an independent neurologist before he can play.

The Eagles' 2012 draft picks traveled together to Ohio for the NFL's rookie symposium in June. They knew little about the NFL except that they would play for a popular team and rabid fans, and they hoped they would be part of the organization for years. "How cool would it be if all of us are playing on the same team, on the same field, at the same time?" cornerback Brandon Boykin asked his classmates. Seven of those draft picks made the team, and for the first time this season, all seven will be active when the Eagles host the Carolina Panthers on Monday night.

Bryce Brown spent last Thanksgiving in Knoxville, Tenn. He was not playing football and had the reputation as a former top recruit whose college career unraveled. One year later, Brown is preparing to start for the Eagles in Monday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Even for Brown, who was confident he could become an NFL player, this was not something he could predict at the Thanksgiving dinner table in Knoxville. "Not a starter" this season, Brown said. "I definitely knew I had the talent and ability to play.