Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook underwent surgery on his right ankle ESPN reports.

Westbrook had bone fragments and scar tissue removed and won’t be able to “put weight on his leg for two weeks” but will be re-evaluated afterwards–he is expected to be ready for the regular season.

The Eagles are a 1-point underdog for their Week 1 regular season Bet Football game against the Carolina Panthers.

For more details check out Football Bets.

When the 49ers finished the 2008 season with a defense ranked 13th in the NFL, it represented a significant improvement from earlier in the year, as former coach Mike Nolan shuttled in players constantly and flip-flopped from a 3-4 front to a 4-3.

In replacing the fired Nolan just before midseason, Mike Singletary simplified the defensive approach and went with a straight 3-4 scheme. The results were tangible and players excelled.

That No. 13 ranking from last year is considered merely a starting point for 2009, as defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and his players believe they can be a top-10 defense, maybe even top five.

"Most definitely. No excuses this year," strong safety Michael Lewis said. "We've got the guys in place. We've got everything we need to be a successful defense and cause turnovers and get the ball back to the offense."