PHILADELPHIA – The news wasn’t surprising to Nick Foles. Or anybody else, for that matter.

After all, the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie quarterback practiced with the first team all week, and the starter at his position, Michael Vick, hadn’t even touched the field since he left it with a concussion six days ago.

So when Coach Andy Reid on Friday officially ruled Vick out of Sunday’s game against Washington and named Foles the starter, there weren’t many people shocked. Certainly not Foles, the third-round pick from Arizona.

“We’ve had a great week of preparation, a lot of hard work, and it definitely has sunk in,” Foles said. “I’m ready to go.”

When Foles and Philadelphia take the field Sunday in a matchup of 3-6 teams, there will be plenty at stake. Any chance of getting back in the NFC East race depends on this team making a run. Reid’s future, and perhaps even Foles’ as a full-time starter, also depend on it.

“We have a great group of guys here, great coaches. I feel great. I felt great ever since I got here. I felt like it’s a home. We have fun together. We have fun out there at practice together and in the locker room,” Foles said. “It’s a great environment to play in, it’s a great environment to go to work in. I feel comfortable in everything and I’m ready to go play for these guys.”

Vick, meanwhile, will be resting this weekend, and spending time in “in dark, quiet places,” according to trainer Rick Burkholder.

“He has too many symptoms for us to even exercise him,” Burkholder said. “He’s not even close to playing this week.”

RAIDERS: Strong safety Tyvon Branch practiced for the first time this week but remains questionable with a neck injury.

BRONCOS: Von Miller and Kevin Vickerson are appealing fines they said they received from the NFL for hits on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton last weekend.

TONY CORRENTE, a referee, was fined one game check by the NFL for uttering some obscenities with his microphone on during a Nov. 4 game in Indianapolis between the Colts and Miami.

STEELERS: Insisting he feels well with no setbacks from an Achilles injury after a week of practice, running back Rashard Mendenhall is set to return.

BROWNS: Starting cornerback Joe Haden will be a game-time decision Sunday against Dallas with an oblique injury.