Eagles quarterback Vick forced out of pre-season game

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (AFP) –

Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles looks for an open man against the New England Patriots during a preseason game at Gillette Stadium on August 20, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Vick has departed an NFL pre-season contest against New England with a rib injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick departed an NFL pre-season contest against New England with a rib injury, a week after hurting his thumb in a pre-season game.

Nick Foles replaced Vick and threw for 217 yards with two touchdowns and one interception as the Eagles beat the Patriots 27-17.

Vick departed in the first quarter, not long after Patriots linebacker Jermaine Cunningham delivered a big hit as Vick released the ball.

X-rays taken in the locker room were negative, but Vick was to have further tests on Tuesday.

“We chose not to bring him back in. He was sore,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

Vick, who served a prison sentence for his involvement in a brutal dogfighting ring, missed three weeks with two broken ribs last season.

Last week, Vick injured his left thumb during Philadelphia’s pre-season opener against Pittsburgh.