Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel has been fined $40,000 by the NFL, a league source said Wednesday.

Samuel was fined for unnecessarily striking a defenseless receiver — the New York Giants’ Derek Hagan — in the head and neck area during Sunday’s game. The hit drew a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. It is Samuel’s second infraction for unnecessary roughness this season.

“He’s making plays on the ball and at the same time, he’s playing physical, and it’s unfortunate that whole thing happened on Sunday where he was flagged because I really think that was a pretty good hit right there,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

Samuel, who sprained his knee Sunday, was one of two Eagles defensive starters to miss practice Wednesday, the team said. Defensive end Juqua Parker (hip flexor) was the other.

Reid said that he is not sure exactly when Samuel sustained the injury, but Reid said that Samuel believes it might have been on a fumble recovery. Samuel also had two interceptions. Joselio Hanson will take Samuel’s reps in practice. Reid said that Samuel “wants to play in the game.”

Parker was hindered by the hip injury prior to last week’s game. Brandon Graham assumed most of the snaps at left defensive end Sunday and forced the fumble that Samuel recovered.

Notes: The Eagles signed cornerback Brandon Hughes from the Giants’ practice squad to replace CB Ellis Hobbs. Hobbs, who left the field on a stretcher with a neck injury in the team’s 27-17 win over the Giants on Sunday, was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday because of a herniated disc in his neck. It has not been determined whether Hobbs will undergo surgery. Reid said that Hughes can play both the inside and outside cornerback spots, but was not signed to be a returner. Jorrick Calvin will resume kickoff return duties with Hobbs’ injury.