Will A.J. Feeley get another shot?

The sixth-year quarterback is all of a sudden sitting in a very familiar position. Back in 2002, Feeley was the Eagles' third-string quarterback, but he was thrust into the starting role after injuries to Donovan McNabb and backup Koy Detmer. Feeley managed the offense, the defense stepped up and the Eagles lost only one of their final five games as they clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

QB A.J. Feeley

The Miami Dolphins were so enamored by Feeley's performance down the stretch they gave the Eagles a second-round pick for him. The Eagles cashed that in with wide receiver Reggie Brown. Feeley struggled in Miami. He was 3-5 as a starter in 2004, throwing for 1,893 yards, 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Feeley was traded again to San Diego in 2005 and did not play in his 10 weeks with the team.

Feeley's career came full circle on August 30 when he re-signed with the Eagles, two days after being released by the Chargers. Feeley, who was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2001 draft, doesn't believe that he's a third-string quarterback. He may get the chance to prove it.

McNabb suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee during Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The backup, Jeff Garcia, was 26-for-48 for 189 yards and a touchdown. Feeley said he was told by head coach Andy Reid to get warmed up on the sidelines, but he never went in. Following the game, Reid did not declare a starter for next Sunday's game in Indianapolis.

"I don't consider myself a third-string quarterback," said Feeley. "I look at myself as a starter everytime I put on a uniform and a helmet. My role during the course of year has been a third guy. For me and what my beliefs are, I can still play."

In 2002, Feeley was 86-for-154 for 1,011 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. The defense responded by surrendering only 57 points over the final five games of the season. Feeley knows that it was a total team effort to rebound then, and it will be now with the Eagles 5-5 and still in the hunt for a playoff spot.

"My hat goes off to the team I played with at that time," said Feeley. "The defense stepped up and made plays. It seemed like the guys rallied behind me. It was one of those things where I kind of fit in and things kind of happened for us. A lot of it was a collective effort and everybody rose to the occasion where no one was looking to someone else to make the play, they were making the plays."

Feeley has not played in a regular season game since Sept. 11, 2005 when he played against the Broncos as a member of the Dolphins. However, Feeley did not throw a pass in that game. The last time Feeley completed a pass in a regular season game was Dec. 26, 2004 against Cleveland. In his only preseason game this season, Feeley completed 9-of-12 passes for 131 yards.

"It might be a spark for us. We don't know," said Feeley. "The season is not ending now. We know that. We're in this thing. As long as people don't forget that, Jeff and I can prepare as if we're playing for the Super Bowl on Sunday. That's just how we're going to approach it. It's not about looking in the past, it's about moving forward."