Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, hampered by a severe leg bruise, missed practice Thursday and will not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, a league source confirmed.
The *Philadelphia Inquirer* reported Thursday that backup quarterback Kevin Kolb will start in place of Vick, who sustained a quad contusion on the first play of the Eagles' 24-14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday night.
The Eagles have yet to make an official announcement, but Kolb told the team's official website Thursday that he is preparing to start.
"If I approach it any other way, then I'll be a step behind," Kolb said. "I want to approach it like I'm going to be out there, take all the reps mentally that I can. Make sure I'm paying attention to the details."
Kolb is an able replacement -- he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in his first two career starts last year.
"There's so much pride on the line with teams and coaches and players, that you do everything you can to win the game every week. You really do," he said. "For the most part, we are going to cut loose and go out there and try to win."
Kolb is signed through 2011, and Vick is in the final year of a two-year contract. Kolb doesn't look at Sunday's game as an audition for another team. He'd like to stay with the Eagles, who almost certainly will bring back Vick.
"I like this team so much and I enjoy being around Mike so much that I think it's an injustice to the team to put my focus anywhere else because what happens if they call on me this week, in the playoffs, whenever," Kolb said. "There's plenty of time for that this offseason. When that time comes, I'll give it thought, but right now, I'm focused on winning this next football game and hopefully going to win a Super Bowl."
Kolb was anointed the Eagles' No. 1 quarterback after serving as Donovan McNabb's backup for three seasons, but he suffered a concussion in Week 1, paving the way for Vick to take over the team. The rest is history, with Vick setting career highs this season in yards passing (3,018), touchdowns passing (21) and touchdowns rushing (nine).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
