Injured McNabb Says He Will Play

Donovan McNabb threw four touchdowns on a broken ankle in a game in 2002. He won’t let a chest injury keep him on the bench.

McNabb didn’t practice Wednesday because of a bruised chest, but the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback said he would play in Philadelphia’s home opener against San Francisco on Sunday.

“Nothing will stop me from being on that field,” said McNabb, who was injured in the first quarter of the Eagles’ 14-10 season-opening loss at Atlanta on Monday night.

If McNabb, who is listed as questionable, can’t play, longtime backup Koy Detmer isn’t a lock to get the start. Detmer shared reps with third-string quarterback Mike McMahon in practice, and Coach Andy Reid wouldn’t select a potential starter.

“We’ll see as the week goes on,” Reid said. “I’ll evaluate it and see what we want to do with it. I know both do a nice job.”

*

Giants Stadium will have a distinct Bayou flavor on Monday night when the New Orleans Saints play their “home” opener against the New York Giants at East Rutherford, N.J., nearly three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana.

About 600 displaced New Orleans residents will be flown to the area by relief agencies and Saint gold and black will be displayed along the walls of the stadium and in one of the end zones.

“It’s cool. But don’t get me wrong, the New York Giants are still playing a home game,” Saint receiver Joe Horn said.

*

An executive with the St. Louis Rams will be reprimanded for leaving a threatening phone message on the voice mail of St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz, who had written that he was disturbed by “infighting and politics” within the Rams’ organization.

Samir Suleiman’s message stated, in part, “tell your source that I’m not a back-stabber, I’m a [expletive] throat slasher, and he’ll know the difference before it’s all said and done.”