Brian Westbrook (36) runs for a touchdown in Sunday's 23-17 Eagles setback. (Mel Evans/Associated Press)

The Philadelphia Eagles confirmed Monday that running back Brian Westbrook has two fractured ribs.

Westbrook, 29, sustained the injury in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Washington Redskins.

"He is very sore," Eagles head coach Andy Reid said.

Westbrook, one of the NFL's most versatile running backs, played the entire game, rushing 12 times for 33 yards and a touchdown and snaring six passes for 51 yards.

Two weeks ago, he suffered a right ankle sprain in a 15-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Whether Westbrook will be fit enough to play Sunday at San Francisco, not even the Eagles know.

"We just have to see," Reid said. "We have to see how it all works out and exactly the pain level there.

"Right now, he is very sore. We will see how things go over the next few days."

"Do I want to be out there at 45 per cent and not wanting to take a hit and hurting this team more than I'm helping it?" Westbrook said. "No, I wouldn't want to set the team back like that."

Set franchise record last season

Westbrook has rushed 54 times for 194 yards and four touchdowns in four starts this season, and caught 14 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

The two-time Pro Bowler set a franchise record with a league-high 2,104 total yards last season, and signed a reworked three-year, $21-million US contract in early August.

Westbrook was slated to make $3 million US this season, with a $1.5 million US roster bonus, in the third year of a five-year, $25-million US contract signed June 1, 2005.

Under the revised deal, he is guaranteed $13 million US over the next two seasons.

Westbrook has rushed 1,068 times for 4,979 yards and 31 touchdowns in 89 games over seven NFL seasons.

The Villanova product has caught 361 passes for 3,304 yards and 25 touchdowns since he was drafted in the third round (91st overall) by Philadelphia in 2002.

With files from the Associated Press