by By Phil Sheridan; Inquirer Columnist , The Philadelphia Inquirer

Taken chronologically, here's what happened:

First, the Eagles worked out popular veteran right tackle Jon Runyan. That seemed interesting but hardly earthshaking until the man in line to replace Runyan, Shawn Andrews, missed practice because of his balky back.

Then word got around that the locker room was closed to reporters after practice, a very unusual move from a coach who puts a premium on a regular routine. Access to players would be on the field, so reporters waited by the doors that lead back to the locker room. The two key people were Reid - the only person authorized by, well, Reid to discuss player injuries - and Winston Justice, who ran first team at right tackle.

But Reid didn't walk off the field the way he walks off the field every other day. He walked with Brian Westbrook to a gate at the north side of the building, near the weight room and, perhaps coincidentally, the NovaCare rehab facility.

Moments later, the Eagles PR staff e-mailed out the official injury report for the day. Westbrook's name was added to the lengthy list, accompanied by the unsettling word "(knee)" - even though he participated in the day's practice.

That was the chronology. Like a Tarantino movie, though, the whole thing made more sense taken out of sequence.

Andrews' absence added intrigue to Runyan's workout. It seems incredible the two events were unrelated. It's more likely the Eagles knew about Andrews' back issue Wednesday and arranged the workout. And it seems remarkable for Westbrook to be added to the injury report by sheer coincidence after the head coach walked him off the practice field by an unusual route.

Unfortunately, the "pact" Reid cited while scolding the media last month was not in force. The coach who was so outraged by reporters chasing news about Stewart Bradley's blown knee declined to answer questions about either Andrews or Westbrook - two extremely important players whose status for Sunday's season opener is vital to the Eagles' chances.

Now it is quite possible that this was a lot of hoo-ha over very little. Maybe Andrews will be able to play Sunday and throughout the season with no worries - just a lot of good times and YouTube videos on the road to the Super Bowl. Maybe Westbrook wanted to chat with Reid about how fantastic he feels and the injury report thing was just a bit of housekeeping in the wake of reports the New York Jets may have violated league rules by leaving Brett Favre off the weekly reports last year.

Maybe and more maybe.

It's just as possible that Andrews and Westbrook are in that place a lot of athletes find themselves. Their injured body parts seem fine as they nurse themselves through the off-season and training camp. Rest your back and ease your knee into activity and all is well. Start pounding on them and things change in a hurry.

The fact the Eagles are counting heavily on two players in that predicament is the Eagles' own doing. Reid rebuilt the most important area of his team, the offensive line, based on the belief that Andrews would be physically healthy and psychologically prepared to play a full season. And while the Eagles did draft LeSean McCoy as an eventual heir to Westbrook's job, the years of Ryan Moats and Lorenzo Booker have left the team without an experienced replacement this year.

And let's not lump Westbrook and Andrews together. Westbrook is one of the toughest, most relentless competitors in Eagles history. There is no doubt he would play every down of every game if his body allowed him. There is much doubt about Andrews. Despite his protestations, he has created a widely held perception that he'd prefer to record mediocre rap songs than throw his body around a Football field - which would be fine if he weren't being paid millions for the latter activity.

On Sunday, the Eagles should be able to beat Carolina with Andrews blocking defensive end Julius Peppers and Westbrook providing his unique blend to the offensive attack.

But if Justice is left out there to deal with Peppers while McCoy tries to pick up blitzes and make sight adjustments on his pass routes - well, it will be a very different sort of game.

The worst thing about yesterday was the sense we're going to see plenty of days just like it. Weekly doubts about the availability of Andrews and Westbrook would lend an unwelcome air of suspense to every game.

And that is shooting you straight.

Contact columnist Phil Sheridan at 215-854-2844

or psheridan@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at http://go.philly.com/philsheridan.

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