Kevin Kolb, Not Jeff Garcia, In if Donovan McNabb Is Out

The Eagles' jumbled quarterback picture cleared up, if only slightly, as head coach Andy Reid announced that Kevin Kolb would be Philadelphia's starter should Donovan McNabb's injury keep him out against New Orleans in Week 2.

Recently signed Jeff Garcia would serve as Kolb's backup.

"I want to make it very clear, Kevin Kolb, right now, is the starting quarterback," Reid said during his Wednesday press conference. "If Donovan's healthy, [Garcia] is the No. 3, if Donovan's not healthy enough to play, he's the No. 2."

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As for McNabb's health, Reid said that the QB is progressing in his recovery from the fractured rib he suffered Sunday in Carolina, but there's no timetable for his return and no official decision has been made on his playing status for this week.

"We'll just see how he does here over the next couple of days," Reid said of McNabb.

What's going unsaid, but may still be perfectly true, is that Kolb's start is a chance to show Philadelphia's brass that he's worth hanging onto. With Michael Vick due back in Week 3, the Eagles are currently carrying four quarterbacks -- that's not something that's likely to continue, especially with the team in need of a right tackle to replace injured Shawn Andrews.

Kolb's in the third year of his rookie deal -- meaning he'll be a free agent after the 2010 season -- but hasn't progressed like Philadelphia hoped since being drafted out of Houston. He also hasn't had much opportunity to play, though, and Sunday could be his first NFL start.

Garcia, on the other hand, is a trusted veteran who's been in the Philadelphia system before. The deal he signed Monday was on the one-year variety, so it wouldn't hurt the Eagles if they opt to cut him loose once McNabb's healthy and Vick's eligible to play.