(AP)
- Michael Vick was held out of practice Wednesday with a
sore left hamstring, but the Atlanta quarterback said he
may play Sunday at Buffalo even if he can't practice the
rest of the week.
"As long as I'm getting mental reps, I think I'll
be able to go out there and execute the game plan,"
Vick said. "It's possible I may not practice all week.
Who knows? I'm just playing it by ear right now. I just
have to be able to be me."
Second-year quarterback Matt Schaub, who made one start
last season, ran the first-team offence Wednesday.
Vick did some light running on the side but did not try
to test the hamstring.
"We're not trying to rush it," he said. "It's
too early in the week."
Vick had to slow down at the end of a 32-yard run in the
fourth quarter of last Sunday's loss at Seattle when his
hamstring began to hurt. After Schaub finished off a touchdown
drive, Vick tried to play in the Falcons' final possession
but again had to leave the game.
Though he acknowledged that hamstring injuries are "tricky,
tricky deals," Falcons coach Jim Mora said he wouldn't
hold Vick back if the star pivot wants to practice Thursday.
Vick passed for only 123 yards, completing 11 of 19 passes,
in the 21-18 loss to Seattle. In two games he has thrown
for 279 yards with one touchdown and one interception and
has rushed for 111 yards with a touchdown.
Vick's value to the Falcons (1-1) is obvious. They are
24-13-1 record in regular-season games he has started and
he led the team to last season's NFC Championship game.
However, the Falcons are 9-19 in games he hasn't started
during his five-year career.
The danger is that Vick could hurt the hamstring more severely
by playing this week.
"I'm probably going to make the final decision,"
Vick said. "I'm the only one who knows how bad I'm
hurting and what I can do and what I can't do."
His status may not be determined until pregame warmups
Sunday.
"I've got to be able to move around," he said.
"It's a big part of my game and a big part of our package
and what we do."
Schaub completed 36 of 70 passes for 362 yards with three
touchdowns and two interceptions in the pre-season. He said
that experience and the chance to work with the No. 1 offence
Wednesday would help him feel comfortable if he starts Sunday.
Ty Detmer, a 14-year pro, is the third-team quarterback
although his role is as much as a coach as a player.
No matter who starts, the Falcons can be expected to lean
heavily on running backs Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett.
The Bills allowed 191 yards rushing, including 128 yards
to Carnell (Cadillac) Williams, in last week's 19-3 loss
to Tampa Bay.
"We're not going to change if we have to go with Matt,"
Mora said. "We have tremendous confidence in Matt.
We like the guy and he can win for us as a quarterback."
