Michael Vick figured hed be spending this week and next week and probably the week after that rehabbing his broken hand.
All of a sudden, hes preparing for the 49ers.
Im very relieved, Vick said Monday afternoon as he left the NovaCare Complex. You know when theres a break, theres a certain amount of time you know youre going to be out. So now I have the opportunity to evaluate the situation and see what its going to be this upcoming week.
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Vick got hurt late in the third quarter of the Eagles 29-16 loss to the Giants at the Linc, as he was getting hit by Giants defensive lineman Chris Canty.
The Eagles announced before the game had ended that X-rays taken at the Linc showed that Vick had broken his right -- non-throwing -- hand.
But head coach Andy Reid said Monday that the X-ray actually showed a blood vessel and not a fracture, and that a more detailed CT scan taken Monday morning revealed no break (see story).
The Eagles are now calling Vicks hand injury a bone bruise. Its a fairly serious one. But its not broken.
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Vick, who missed practice last Wednesday after suffering a concussion Sunday in Atlanta, actually seemed somewhat optimistic that hell be able to play Sunday in the Eagles crucial game at the Linc against the 49ers.
Its still sore, still swollen, but i think with the rehab during the week we'll see how it recovers and how well it gets, he said. We still have time to figure this whole deal out and have an opportunity to see how it feels come Wednesday and Thursday and make some progress in the treatment room.
The main challenge for Vick is being able to grip the ball securely with both hands when its snapped from center. As long as his right hand is swollen, that will be difficult.
Vick said he has to consider the risk of further injury if he goes out and plays against the 49ers with the hand not totally healed.
It's always the risk of having the injury and making it worse once you step out onto the field, he said. If I'm out there, that's something I won't even consider, so I try to make it as best as possible and evaluate the situation and make sure when I step onto the field it's a safe situation.
So does he expect to play?
I don't know, he said. That all remains to be seen, and we just have to take it one day at a time and see how everything unfolds.
Vick, who blasted the officials after the game Sunday night for what he believes are late hits that are going unpenalized, sounded somewhat regretful about his remarks.
Maybe I shouldn't have approached it in that fashion because the truth of the matter is, we can't control the situation, he said. The refs have to do their job, and they have tons of things to look over, so I think I was kind of out of character and being too candid in that aspect. But, ultimately, I respect the referees and their decision to make calls and that's the way to be and you won't hear me complaining about it any more.
Vick knows that his comments could draw a fine from the NFL.
Hopefully not, he said. But if I do (get fined), I understand why.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.