McNabb Sidelined, Perhaps for a Long Time By ROB MAADDI, AP PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 16) - Donovan McNabb will miss Philadelphia's game against the New York Giants on Sunday with a groin injury. Mike McMahon, who had been the third-string quarterback, will get the start over backup Koy Detmer. McNabb's status beyond this week is uncertain. He'll see a specialist Thursday. "He's not moving around very well," coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. McNabb re-injured his groin Monday night while trying to tackle Cowboys safety Roy Williams after he threw an interception. Williams returned the pick 46 yards for a touchdown with 2:43 left to lead Dallas to a 21-20 comeback victory over the Eagles. McMahon nearly led Philadelphia to the winning score after coming in for the last series against Dallas. He drove the Eagles to the Cowboys 42 before David Akers missed a 60-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds. In four seasons with Detroit, McMahon started seven games. He had a 43.8 completion percentage with 10 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions, but he ran for 273 yards on 46 carries. Detmer has been McNabb's backup the last six seasons. He is the No. 2 quarterback this year only because he holds the ball on extra points and field goals. McNabb has played through several injuries this season, including a sports hernia that will require surgery. But the five-time Pro Bowl selection clearly isn't the same quarterback he's been. McNabb's psyche is feeling worse after his interception cost Philadelphia a crucial victory. The reigning conference champion Eagles (4-5) have lost three straight games and are last in the NFC East. "I take the blame for every loss," McNabb said. "I don't point the finger at any time. I take the blame for all losses." McNabb has thrown a costly interception in each of the last three games, and has nine picks this season. He threw just eight interceptions last year when he became the first player in NFL history to throw more than 30 touchdown passes (31) and fewer than 10 interceptions. In a 49-21 loss at Denver on Oct. 30, the Eagles rallied from a 28-0 deficit and were within 24 yards of scoring the tying TD early in the fourth quarter. McNabb had running back Lamar Gordon wide open on a third-and-5, but went for Reggie Brown in the end zone instead and was picked off by rookie Domonique Foxworth. The Broncos then put the game away with 21 straight points. In a 17-10 loss at Washington last week, McNabb drove the Eagles to the Redskins 7 in the final minutes only to throw an interception on a fourth-and-4 with 1:25 remaining. "I'm just trying to make a play. You have the confidence you can get it in there, so you try to get it in there," McNabb said. "As a quarterback, you can't be tentative. You can't sit back and hold the ball. You've got to give your receivers an opportunity to compete and make a play for you. That's what I've been doing. I've been doing it the last couple of years. Some balls have gotten intercepted. It's going to happen as a quarterback. All quarterbacks go through it." It has been a difficult season for McNabb, starting with the turmoil between him and Terrell Owens. The All-Pro wideout was suspended before the loss to Washington, and was told not to return to the team last week. McNabb, who feuded with Owens throughout the summer, put himself on the spot by saying the team was "better off" without its top playmaker. He refused to answer questions about Owens after the loss to Dallas. "We need to stop talking about this," McNabb said. "No. 86, No. 83, and No. 80 are the receivers right now. Those guys did a good job these last two weeks. And, they're going to continue to get better. That's what we need to focus on." Brown, Greg Lewis and Billy McMullen combined for seven catches for 62 yards against Dallas. Owens had 47 catches for 763 yards and six TDs in seven games. 11-16-05 13:53 EST
