Vick Set to Soar Thursday Night

Updated 5:33 AM EDT, Wed, Aug 26, 2009

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

Getty Images

Michael Vick will make his preseason debut for the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.

The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback hasn't played in an NFL game since Dec. 31, 2006 with the Atlanta Falcons. He was released from federal custody last month after serving 18 months of a 23-month sentence for his role in running a dogfighting operation.

"I can only go off what I've seen in practice and it looks like he's moving around pretty good," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

"Realistically, it's been two years. We'll see how it works out. We'll give him a couple shots in there and see what he can do."

It's unknown how much Vick will play against Jacksonville. Donovan McNabb and the rest of the starters are slated to play three quarters and Vick won't play in the fourth quarter, Reid said. That means Vick could spell McNabb and get reps with the first-team offense.

It's also likely he could be used in a variation of the wildcat formation. Reid wasn't concerned about showing off such packages in a preseason game, he said.

"I'm just going to take it play by play and see how he adjusts to game speed," Reid said. "If I think that's a problem, I'll probably discontinue the reps. If I feel he's adjusting OK, I'll continue to give him an opportunity here and there."

Vick is eligible to play the next two preseason games, but not in the regular season. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by no later than Week 6 (Oct. 18 at Oakland).

Thursday will be a long day for Vick considering that he will need to be in Virginia for a morning bankruptcy hearing. He was expected back for the 7 p.m. game.

"He wants to get in. He's set this as a goal, as did we," Reid said. "You see him out there conditioning after practice. He's conditioning before practice. He's excited to get out there. I'm sure he'll have a couple butterflies with it being a couple years since he's been in, but he's excited to get back doing what he does."