McNabb Says He’s Ready

Donovan McNabb plans to play in the Philadelphia Eagles’ first playoff game. Coach Andy Reid isn’t ready to make it official.

McNabb practiced Thursday for the first time since breaking his right ankle 1 1/2 months ago. Reid said his star quarterback took all the reps with the first-team offense in a short practice closed to reporters.

Asked if he could play next weekend, McNabb said: “I have no doubt in my mind.”

But Reid was reluctant to announce who will start.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow after sleeping on it,” Reid said. “We’ll see if he has soreness, swelling. He’s getting better every day, he’s making progress.”

McNabb hasn’t played since leading the Eagles to a 38-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 17.

Philadelphia was 7-3 with McNabb, who was having the best season of his four-year career.

Without him, the Eagles went 5-1.

If McNabb is unable to play, Koy Detmer will start Jan. 11 or 12. Detmer led the Eagles to a victory in his only start before he dislocated his left elbow.

A.J. Feeley will go back to being the third-string quarterback after winning four of his five starts.

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Pittsburgh quarterback Tommy Maddox easily beat Miami running back Robert Edwards in voting for NFL comeback player of the year.

A flop as a first-round draft pick before resurrecting his career in the XFL, Maddox earned 24 votes from a panel of 48 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL.

Edwards had 14 votes, nine more than Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis, Carolina quarterback Rodney Peete, Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James and Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor also received votes.

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Indianapolis defensive end Chad Bratzke is expected to play Saturday against the New York Jets, but there’s a good chance the Colts will be without linebacker Marcus Washington.

Bratzke who had 70 tackles and six sacks, practiced Wednesday and Thursday.

Washington did not work out Thursday. Coach Tony Dungy called him “very questionable.”

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Donald Driver returned to practice and was the only Green Bay Packer player in full pads as he tested his injured right shoulder.

Green Bay’s leading receiver caught a pass from Brett Favre, but when he had to reach for another one, he dropped it. He also delivered a hit to practice squad member Hurley Tarver.

“I had to go out there and practice today just to get the feel of what it’d be like if I did play Saturday,” Driver said.

Driver is listed as 50-50 for Green Bay’s playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field.

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Kick returner Vinny Sutherland was re-signed by the San Francisco 49ers, who put linebacker Jamie Winborn on injured reserve.

Sutherland set a franchise rookie record in 2001 with 1,121 return yards on kickoffs but was cut Aug. 27 -- three months after he was arrested when he drove his car into two light posts.

He pleaded no contest to hit-and-run and drunk driving charges on Oct. 7, and he spent time in a substance-abuse treatment clinic.