PHILADELPHIA -- For the first time in three years, the Philadelphia Eagles are getting ready for a game without Donovan McNabb.

	Detmer

	McNabb

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback probably will miss the rest of the regular season and could be out for the playoffs because of a broken right ankle. Koy Detmer, who hasn't started since 1999, takes over for McNabb.

Detmer lined up as the first-team quarterback Tuesday as the Eagles held their first practice -- closed to reporters -- without their offensive leader.

"Looking across the huddle and not seeing Donovan there, you're just like, 'Don's not here,''' center Hank Fraley said. "It maybe hits you on the first play, but after that, it's practice.''

Philadelphia (7-3), which holds a one-game lead over the New York Giants in the NFC East, plays the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers (7-3) on Monday night in a game with significant playoff implications.

The Eagles, who advanced to the NFC championship game last season before losing to St. Louis, were hoping to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. Without McNabb, it'll be a challenge just getting to the postseason.

"Koy's not Donovan, and Donovan's not Koy,'' wide receiver Todd Pinkston said. "We know that it's a different man behind the center. We just have to take it upon ourselves to continue to do what we do and keep making plays and keep confident.''

McNabb was hurt on the third play of Sunday's 38-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. But he stayed in the game and had the best passing day of his four-year career, finishing 20-of-25 for 255 yards and four touchdowns.

McNabb and the team's medical staff didn't realize the severity of his injury until X-rays after the game showed a break. He's expected to be out six-to-eight weeks, but that can change depending on whether he has surgery or chooses to let the bone heal on its own.

McNabb, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft, made 48 consecutive starts, including the playoffs. The Eagles were 33-15 in those games.

"There's six games left. We're 7-3 and still in first place. We can't look at it in any other way,'' linebacker Ike Reese said. "We still control our own destiny. If we go out there and execute each week, we should be in the right position at the end of the season, and that's the only way we can look at it.''

Detmer, a seventh-round pick by the Eagles in 1997, was 1-4 as a starter in 1998 for a team that finished 3-13. He won his only start in 1999 when the Eagles went 5-11. Detmer has completed 113 of 227 passes (49.7 percent) for 1,240 yards, eight TDs and nine interceptions in six seasons. He has thrown just 17 passes since his last start.

"It's a chance for me to go out and play and have fun,'' the free-spirited Detmer said. "I'm excited for a chance to play and have fun. It's hard for everyone to watch Donovan be injured. I think we all know that the show has got to go on. I'm the next guy in line and I know the team will play hard.''