According to several reports, Michael Vick is expected to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Thursday and a ruling on his reinstatement could come as early as Saturday.

According to a source speaking with the Philadelphia Daily News’ Les Bowen, the ruling is expected to come before Saturday’s 6:00 PM deadline for NFL teams to cut their rosters to 53 players. This would allow the Eagles to properly prepare their final roster.

Goodell has previously said that he would make a ruling by Week 6 of the regular season, although many people expected the decision to come before then. While Goodell could suspend Vick for any number of games, or not at all, it is expected that he will miss two games, becoming eligible in Week 3 at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

If Vick is suspended, then the Eagles will need to decide whether to carry a 52-man roster, or put him on the exempt list. Then they could carry the full 53-man roster, but Vick would not be eligible to practice. Before signing with the Eagles two weeks ago, Vick has not played or practiced football at the NFL level in almost two years and would certainly benefit from that added practice time.

If the suspension is only two or three weeks, then the Eagles would likely try to get by with a smaller roster, but if it is a five or six week suspension, then they will likely place him on the exempt list.

Another reason the Eagles are eager to learn the extent of Vick’s suspension, according to Bowen, is that several teams, most notably the New England Patriots, have expressed interest in backup quarterback A.J. Feeley, who is likely the odd man out with Vick on the roster. The sooner they know how long they have to wait for Vick to return, the sooner they can shop Feeley.

Vick is expected to see playing time in the Eagles’ final preseason game Thursday night at the Meadowlands against the New York Jets, although backup quarterback Kevin Kolb is going to start the game.