PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb didn't need a cane or crutches to walk around, and he joked that ballet dancing was part of his rehab routine.
His sense of humor is intact, though a gimpy ankle and sore thumb could keep the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback on the sideline when the Eagles visit New England on Sunday.
McNabb didn't practice Wednesday because of a sprained right ankle and a swollen thumb sustained in Philadelphia's 17-7 win over Miami. McNabb hurt the thumb on his throwing hand early and left after injuring his ankle in the second quarter.
A.J. Feeley led the Eagles to a pair of touchdowns and would start against the Patriots if McNabb can't play.
"You want to have all of your faculties intact before you get back out and be competitive again," McNabb said. "You want to be smart, but you also want to go out there and play."
McNabb didn't have a noticeable limp when he chatted briefly with reporters at his weekly news conference. He then headed to the trainer's room for more rehab.
Coach Andy Reid said McNabb's ankle swelled up Tuesday. A day earlier, it seemed the thumb injury was more of a concern.
"Right now the ankle is a little more swollen than the thumb," Reid said. "We'll take it day by day and see how he goes."
McNabb was hurt almost one year to the day he tore a knee ligament against Tennessee. He rehabbed vigorously following that injury, returned well ahead of schedule and started every game this season. A feared scrambler, McNabb was just starting to regain his speed and mobility when he went down again.
It's the fourth time in six years McNabb has been hurt shortly before Thanksgiving. He didn't return in the regular season the first three times, missing a total of 19 games. The Eagles were 12-7 in those games, and 1-1 in the playoffs without him last year.
The Eagles (5-5) are a 22-point underdog against the unbeaten Patriots (10-0), so it might not make a difference who plays quarterback. McNabb dismissed the idea he'd sit out to get ready for important home games against Seattle and the New York Giants the first two weeks in December.
"I don't believe in conserving yourself," McNabb said. "I don't believe in sitting back and waiting for another team or sitting out trying to get yourself ready for next week."
It's possible McNabb could start Sunday without practicing the rest of the week. Running back Brian Westbrook often plays despite missing practice, including last week when he had a career-best 148 yards rushing against Miami.
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