PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 21, 2005) -- Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens now can bond in the trainer's room.
McNabb and Owens missed practice with injuries, but it's unlikely either player won't play in Philadelphia's game against Oakland on Sept. 25.
The two stars, who have reconciled their relationship after feuding all summer, connected for two touchdowns in the Eagles' 42-3 victory against San Francisco on Sept. 18.
"I don't think any injury will take me away from playing," McNabb said. "It's serious enough that you have to pay attention to it."
McNabb, who sat out one practice last week with a bruised chest, hurt his groin right before halftime against the 49ers. Owens has a nagging abdominal/groin injury. Also, kicker David Akers was limited in practice because of a hamstring injury.
Wearing extra padding to protect his chest, McNabb threw for 342 yards and tied a career-best with five TDs in three quarters against the 49ers after a poor performance in the season-opening loss to Atlanta.
"It seems like it's something new every week, but it's something you have to get used to and realize that you just can't go in and out of games pain-free," McNabb said. "I'm sort of used to it."
If McNabb couldn't play against the Raiders, Koy Detmer probably would start over Mike McMahon. Detmer completed all nine of his passes for 94 yards against San Francisco. McMahon finished up, completing a 22-yard pass on his only attempt.
"He felt a little sore during the game, not much," Reid said of McNabb. "It tightened up on him yesterday; it really knotted up on him. We tried to get it out of there, but we weren't as successful as we wanted to be. We'll let him rest today and see what he can do tomorrow."
Owens had five catches for 143 yards and two TDs -- all in the first 19 minutes -- in his first game against his former team. The enigmatic Owens low-fived McNabb after the first score and gave him the ball following the second one. The two weren't on speaking terms and ignored each other after hooking up for a 64-yard TD pass in their only preseason appearance together last month.
Owens has been bothered by groin injuries for years, and missed time during training camp. He wasn't practicing when Reid banished him from camp for a week following a heated dispute.
But Owens has been on his best behavior since he returned to the team in mid-August. He has put aside his demand for a new contract and has been more disruptive for opponents than his teammates. In the first two games, Owens has 12 catches for 255 yards and two TDs.
Akers hurt his hamstring after a kickoff in the second quarter. Linebacker Mark Simoneau kicked one extra point and third-string tight end Mike Bartrum kicked off before Akers returned to make the rest of the kicks.
The Eagles signed Todd France to the practice squad Sept. 20 in case Akers isn't ready to play against the Raiders. It's possible France would be added to the roster exclusively for kickoffs in the Raiders game.
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