With Sam Bradford missing Sunday's game with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder as well as a concussion, reserve Mark Sanchez stepped in to take his place. Heading into the Eagles' Week 12 meeting with the Lions, the question of who will get the nod at quarterback in the Thanksgiving contest remains unanswered.
On Monday, Bradford returned to practice as a limited participant, and on Tuesday he went through the team's walkthrough, but Sanchez is still preparing as if he'll be the starter on Thursday. After all, Bradford admitted that while he's passed concussion protocol, his left shoulder is still causing him discomfort, and with a short week ahead the first-year Eagle will likely be a game-time decision.
"You've got to prepare and take all the reps seriously, so that's what I've done all week," Sanchez told reporters. "I don't know (if I'm playing or not). I'm just getting ready to go. I know as much as you guys do."
In Tuesday's practice session, Bradford was a limited participant. But beyond perhaps more important than the truncated on-field preparation the two will have during the week is the off-the-field studying that both must do to be ready to face the Lions just four days after playing the Bucs.
Last season, Philadelphia played the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving. That was Sanchez's fourth of eight eventual starts that year in place of an injured Nick Foles, and it was one of his better games as an Eagle. He was 20-of-29 for 217 yards, scoring one touchdown through the air and another with his legs.
"The sooner you can play, the sooner you can get back out on the field, and get into a rhythm and go throw it around, it'll be fun," he said, noting that recovery and mental preparation will be key in the days leading up to the game. "Whatever you've got to do, you've just got to maximize your time and leave yourself enough time to sleep."
Sanchez has completed 40 of his 64 pass attempts (62.5 percent) in two games this season, tallying 417 yards with two touchdowns and four picks.
Through 10 games, Bradford has thrown for 2,297 yards with a 63.9 percent completion rate, tossing 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the process. He was coming off a two-game stretch in which he completed 44 of his 61 pass attempts (72.1 percent) and threw two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Stay tuned for updates on Bradford's status as we approach Thursday's game.
