PHILADELPHIA -- Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard is expected to miss at least one game for the Eagles with a sprained knee ligament.
Sheppard hurt his right knee in a three-way collision with teammate Sean Considine and Packers receiver Ruvell Martin late in the first half of Philadelphia's 16-13 loss at Green Bay on Sunday.
An MRI exam Monday confirmed Sheppard has a sprained medial collateral ligament. The Eagles host the Washington Redskins next Monday night.
"I don't think he'll make it this week," coach Andy Reid said.
Will James would replace Sheppard in the starting lineup, and Joselio Hanson would fill the nickel spot.
Sheppard has a knack for making big plays, but he's had trouble staying on the field. He missed six games in 2005 with a badly sprained ankle that required surgery, sat out three games early last season with another ankle injury and didn't play in the playoff loss to New Orleans after hurting his elbow.
He earned his second trip to Hawaii last year, making two game-clinching interceptions in the final minutes of wins over Dallas and Carolina.
Sheppard sealed Philadelphia's 38-24 victory over the Cowboys last October by picking off Drew Bledsoe's pass and running 102 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player in NFL history to have two 100-yard interception returns for scores. His other one was 101 yards against Dallas in '04.
In December, Sheppard intercepted Jake Delhomme's pass in the end zone to give the Eagles a 27-24 victory over the Panthers. He finished with a career-best six interceptions in 13 games.
A first-round pick in 2002, Sheppard and Sheldon Brown replaced veteran cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor following the 2003 season. Sheppard was an All-Pro in '04, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl. He has 15 career interceptions, including three returned for TDs.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Source: ESPN.com
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