NFL notes: McNabb returns to standing ovation

Donovan McNabb tried to play it all down. In the end, after he made himself right at home in Philadelphia, it became clear this was not just another road trip.

McNabb drew a standing ovation from the fans of his former team when he was introduced Sunday before the Washington Redskins’ game at the Linc.

In the locker room, he told teammates: “This is something we can feed off of going into the rest of the season. We are No. 1 in the NFC East, and we’re going to stay up there.

“Everybody makes mistakes in their lifetime, and they made one last year. So, thank you.”

When McNabb came out as the final Redskin introduced before the game, nearly everyone in the stadium – many wearing No. 5 Eagles jerseys – stood in tribute to the quarterback who led the Eagles to five NFC title games before being traded in April.

“You realize you spent 11 years here and I knew it was coming,” McNabb said of the greeting.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick left the game against Washington with rib and chest injuries.

Vick needed X-rays in the locker room after he was hit in the first quarter, and he did not return to the bench for the second half. He will have an MRI exam today. The Eagles were mum on the severity of the injuries and Vick declined comment.

Garrett Hartley was in civvies in the Louisiana Superdome, meaning 46-year-old John Carney was back in the saddle to handle the New Orleans Saints’ placekicking duties.

Carney delivered three field goals, including the go-ahead kick form 25 yards out with 3:55 left, as the Saints managed a 16-14 victory over the winless Carolina Panthers.

Carney said he trained in the offseason with the New York Jets’ Steve Weatherford, who used to punt for the Saints.