Eagles' McNabb Will Sit Out Preseason Opener

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb will not play in tonight's preseason opener against Baltimore. McNabb, sidelined since tearing a ligament in his right knee last November, has not yet recovered from surgery. A.J. Feeley will start and play the first quarter, Kelly Holcomb the second, and rookie Kevin Kolb the second half, coach Andy Reid said.

McNabb is steadily improving, but Reid prefers not to use him on Baltimore's artificial surface. "I'd rather just start him off at our place, on grass, if possible," he said. Kolb, a 4-year starter at Houston, told the Cherry Hill Courier-Post tonight will be the first time since his freshman year of high school that he's been a backup. (More Philadelphia Eagles stories.)