Eagles Back Westbrook Battling Swollen Knee; Will Play In NFC Title Game

January 14, 2009 6:44 p.m. EST

Philadelphia, PA (AHN) - Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is again hobbled by his ailing left knee, but still expects to play Sunday as his team visits Arizona for the NFC Championship game.

Westbrook aggravated his already banged-up knee last weekend when the Eagles upset the New York Giants 23-11 at the Meadowlands.

It's no surprise that the star rusher is limping at this juncture of the season. But it's no secret either that he's used to playing injured, so his presence at the University of Phoenix Stadium hardly will be a surprise, especially for the equally-surprising Cardinals.

Westbrook hasn't practiced for weeks, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, practically the team's protocol before gameday in hopes of cushioning the injury's impact.

He also told an ESPN-AM radio show Monday that his productivity against New York was attributed to the Giants' interior defense and not his ailing health.

"I don't feel injuries have had much to do with my production. I think I'm going out there as healthy as I've been, for the most part (lately)," he told the station.

Westbrook's playoff production indeed has soured, with just 74 rushing yards and zero touchdowns.

His breakthrough effort came from the receiving end, where he caught a game-clinching 71-yard pass against Minnesota in the wild-card round.

Overall in the postseason, Westbrook has tallied 74 yards on 38 carries and 93 yards on five catches. He'll be sure add to those numbers against the Cardinals, but that is, if his knee fully cooperates.

Elsewhere on the team, wide receiver Jason Avant appears to be close to being healthy after suffering a hyperextended knee against the Giants.

Right tackle Jon Runyan, though, is heading to the opposite direction with a swollen knee that has not yet fully healed. He's still battling soreness from the sprain, Eagles coach Andy Reid told the Daily News.