Too early to end Westbrook’s year

It’s too early to tell if Brian Westbrook will play again this season, Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday.

During the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 31-23 defeat at San Diego on Sunday, the two-time Pro Bowl running back suffered a second concussion in three weeks. It was Westbrook’s first game back, having been knocked cold Oct. 26 at Washington.

In his weekly day-after press conference, Reid defended the process that put Westbrook back in harm’s way.

“We took every precautionary measure we could before, and it happened again,” the coach said, “Football, right now, for Brian Westbrook, is not the most important thing.”

Westbrook suffered the concussion on a screen play in the third quarter. Unlike in Washington, Westbrook never lost consciousness.

If Westbrook’s season is over, the Eagles are expected to continue to lean on rookie LeSean McCoy, although a roster move remains a possibility. Philadelphia ranks 23rd in the NFL in rushing offense and last in the NFC East.