Quarterback Jeff Garcia was named the team's starting quarterback for Sunday night's game against the Colts.

"I brought Jeff in there for this situation, for this reason right here," Andy Reid said.

Garcia took over last Sunday in the second quarter of the Eagles' 31-13 loss to Tennessee when Donovan McNabb suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. Garcia shook off the rust to complete 26-of-48 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. The injury officially ended McNabb's season on Tuesday when he was placed on the Injured Reserve list.

QB Jeff Garcia

"I thought he was the best one for the job right now," Reid said. "He has great experience in this league and he knows the system."

The eighth-year quarterback signed with the Eagles March 16 to provide veteran experience and depth at the position. Garcia was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2001-2003 and started in 2003. Garcia will need to limit the mistakes, and he entered this season ranked sixth all-time in lowest interception percentage and highest touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Garcia is excited about the opportunity.

"I am thankful that the decision has gone my way, that I am going to be the guy out there on the field because I think that I can bring some value to this team from a leaderhip standpoint, from an experience standpoint and just from a pure grit standpoint, and that's what I hope to do on Sunday," Garcia said.

Garcia, who spent the first five years of his NFL career in San Francisco, is also very familiar with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who served the same role with the 49ers from 1999-2000. Garcia became the first quarterback in 49ers history to complete 300-or-more passes in three consecutive seasons (2000-2002).

"I think that it's important that I have the confidence from coach Reid that I am the guy, that this team knows who the quarterback is," Garcia said.