TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb cherishes the thought of returning to Philadelphia to lead the Cardinals against his former team on Sunday.
But a right turf toe injury could stand in his way, regardless of how much Kolb wants to play.
He acknowledges this is no ordinary game to him, and that means his pain tolerance will be higher than usual. Kolb says he wants to play against the Eagles, "at all cost."
Kolb started seven games in four seasons with the Eagles and was heir apparent to Donovan McNabb before the signing of Michael Vick. Kolb started last season's opener, and then went down with a concussion. Vick has been No. 1 ever since. At his request, Kolb was dealt to Arizona in the offseason, and then signed a five-year, $63 million deal, with $21 million guaranteed.
The results have been disappointing since then for the 2-6 team, and Kolb would love a chance to start to make things right with an upset victory on the road, where Arizona has lost 11 in a row.
Injured two games ago at Baltimore, Kolb didn't practice last week and sat out Sunday's 19-13 overtime victory over St. Louis. While he officially didn't work out on Wednesday, either, he said he was able to do a little bit to prepare.
"Threw a bunch of drills, trying to get movement back in it, trying to put a little bit more weight on it," he said, "did some squatting, and did some step-ups. A little bit of movement here and there. I just took some nice easy drops, trying to see how much it will take as far as pushing off and doing certain things."
That left open at least a chance that he might practice on Thursday.
"I wait until I wake up. We are pushing it hard right now," Kolb said. "You have to see how it responds and then make a decision from there."
Kolb acknowledges this would be no ordinary game, with the chance to perform on the field against Vick, the dynamic quarterback who took away what had been Kolb's starting job.
"Anybody can say that they don't circle it on your calendar, but you do," Kolb said. "I have a lot of friends and there are a lot of good people back there. I'm looking forward to going back, but I definitely want to be in uniform and have a chance to play."
Coach Ken Whisenhunt pretty much said what he has said since Kolb was injured.
"He's working at it. It's really going to come down to getting the mobility in there, in his foot, to be able to be comfortable enough with the plan," Whisenhunt said. "He's made great progress, even today."
Whisenhunt said Kolb needs to take some reps and do some other things in practice this week at some point to be ready to go against the Eagles.
"He's not very long in our offense anyway," Whisenhunt said. "It's not like he can just pick up and go. It's going to really determine how the week progresses."
Backup John Skelton, while far from spectacular, led his team over St. Louis, snapping the Cardinals' six-game losing streak. While Skelton was responsible for two safeties, he came back to lead an 84-yard touchdown drive that ended with his 13-yard TD pass to Larry Fitzgerald to tie the game.
Skelton, a second-year pro who improved to 3-2 as a starter, knows what this game means to Kolb, but says he is ready to go if necessary.
"It would be nice," Skelton said. "Everyone wants to play and wants to start, and you just take your opportunities when you get them."
Kolb said last week was the first time he watched a game from the sideline instead of playing because of injury. Last year when he went down with a concussion after starting the Eagles' opener, he didn't make the trip to the next game.
"It was definitely not enjoyable," Kolb said. "I'm glad we got the win to put a smile on my face there at the end though."