Sound familiar?

For the third time in five years, the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback has sustained a season-ending injury in mid-November.

While the Philadelphia Eagles are left to chase the playoffs with either Jeff Garcia or A.J. Feeley leading an offence that was ranked first in the NFL through nine games, McNabb can only wonder if he'll ever be the same player.

McNabb tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on what looked like a harmless play during Sunday's 31-13 loss to Tennessee. Last year, a sports hernia cut short his season. In 2002, it was a broken ankle.

For the hardest-luck quarterback in recent memory, it's starting to sound more like a broken record.

``Donovan, because he is the leader of this team and because he has had that role, he doesn't show tons and tons of emotion when he is down, so he was pretty steady (Sunday) night,'' head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Monday. ``He accepts that injuries are part of the game. He is disappointed, I know.''

If McNabb isn't starting to feel sorry for himself now, he probably never will. Consider:

A month ago, McNabb was an MVP candidate after leading the Eagles to a 4-1 start. Physically, he had regained his old form after surgery for the sports hernia. Mentally, he was doing just fine, too, without the constant criticism from old friend Terrell Owens.

It seemed McNabb was finally getting his due.

He was proving to be the most indispensable player on the Eagles, and the main reason Philadelphia went to the playoffs five straight seasons, including four consecutive appearances in the NFC championship game and one Super Bowl.

Always a dangerous scrambler, McNabb again ran with abandon when necessary and made big plays with his arm. He regressed somewhat after an outstanding performance in a win over T.O. and the Dallas Cowboys, throwing two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns by Ronde Barber in a last-second loss at Tampa.

Still, McNabb was the heart and soul of Philly's potent offense. Now, he can only watch from the sideline and prepare for yet another comeback.

None will be tougher than this one, though.

There's no telling whether McNabb will have the same speed and elusiveness that made him so special when he's healthy enough to play again. And no one can be sure how long that will take.

``The last thing I said to him last night when he was leaving was, 'We'll get you right,' and he said, 'We've got to get these guys right,''' Burkholder said. ``His concern was his teammates more than him at the time. I don't think any of us expect anything less out of Donovan.''

McNabb is a tireless worker who spends countless hours studying film, working out and making sure he's at his best. He'll certainly tackle his rehabilitation aggressively and try his hardest to be ready for the season opener next year.

However, McNabb turns 30 on Saturday. Injuries, especially one this severe, take a toll physically and emotionally on all players. There are no guarantees McNabb will perform again at a superstar level.

``The track record with other athletes that have played the position and have had ACL tears, they've done OK,'' Burkholder said.

Carson Palmer tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and dislocated his kneecap in Cincinnati's playoff loss to Pittsburgh last Jan. 8. He had surgery two days later and was ready for the Bengals' season opener this year.

But Palmer is a pocket passer who plays a much different style than McNabb. Daunte Culpepper might be more comparable because he's a mobile quarterback.

Culpepper tore his anterior cruciate, medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in a game with Minnesota on Oct. 30, 2005. He was traded to Miami and started the season opener but clearly wasn't the same player and went to the bench after four games. He's been inactive for the last six games while continuing his rehabilitation.

McNabb already went to see renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Eagles coach Andy Reid said on his radio show that McNabb likely have surgery within a month because there's too much swelling in his knee to operate this week.

But for now, all those variables add up to one thing for the quarterback who can't seem to catch a break: He won't throw another pass the rest of the season.

Again.