According to Reuben Frank's article on Phillyburbs.com, Brian Westbrook's rehabilitation is on schedule for him to ready to go by opening day. As far as I'm concerned, nothing he's done matter until he starts going out on the field and performing football drills.
"An Eagles official said this week that Westbrook's recovery is right on schedule and said the team has no worries about him being ready for the season opener against the Panthers on Sept. 13."
Right now he's probably running in a pool and doing leg strengthening drills. They're giving him deep tissue rubs to remove scar tissue and get the blood flowing in those areas of his body.
Westbrook may be right on schedule but the key will be when he starts planting his foot in the ground and cutting on his knee and ankle. He couldn't do it in the playoff game against the Giants or the NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals.
One of Westbrook's most important abilities is his knack for making people miss. The key to his rehab is getting back to the point where he can again leave tacklers grasping air, as he continues his run downfield.
He must be able to change direction in order to make tacklers miss. Those changes of direction put a lot of pressure on his ankles and knees.
