The Eagles might be on the path to receiving a more definitive answer in the Shawn Andrews injury situation. Andrews spent Monday in Los Angeles with Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the surgery to correct the herniated disc in his back last year. Andrews tweaked a muscle in his back during the timing and testing conditioning drills back on July 30 and was sidelined for the entirety of training camp at Lehigh University. All indications so far is that the muscle injury is not related to the herniated disc surgery from a year ago.

Head coach Andy Reid should provide an update this afternoon after practice. You can watch it on Eagles Live! at 12:30 p.m.

The original back injury took place in Week 2 of the 2008 regular season against the Dallas Cowboys on an extra point attempt. Andrews underwent the surgery just over a month later on Oct. 21. Even though he was never placed on the injured reserve list, he didn't play for the remainder of the season.

The two-time Pro Bowl guard, who is sliding out to right tackle this year, insists that it's the injury, not his desire to play the game, that is keeping him off the field.

"A lot of you guys with the ink pens are questioning my mental toughness," Andrews said on Saturday. "A lot of guys with ink pens who never put on a jock strap and never played any football don't really understand. It's tough when a guy can't defend himself. People just kind of make me out to be a nut case, but it's all right. I'm content with myself and I'm content with where God wants me to be."

In Andrews' place, Winston Justice has been working with the first-team offense.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 9:49 a.m., August 18