Jalen Hurts remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, leading Philadelphia to face Dallas without their star quarterback.
The Eagles will rely on backup signal-caller Kenny Pickett on Sunday as Hurts continues to recover from a concussion sustained against Washington.
Hurts got injured early against Washington, hitting his head on the ground during one run and receiving a helmet-to-helmet hit from Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu on another play.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned that the team would rely on medical updates to monitor Hurts’ recovery from the head injury, especially considering his significant role in the previous game against Dallas in November.
Hurts, aged 26, did not practice this week, paving the way for Pickett to make his first start for the Eagles after suffering a rib injury during the last game against the Commanders.
Pickett’s performance in relief against the Commanders saw him go 14 of 24 for 143 yards, throwing a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown but also an interception.
Pickett, hailing from New Jersey, expressed his excitement for the opportunity to potentially start for the Eagles, reminiscing about attending games at Lincoln Financial Field with his family since he was 5 years old.
“It’s a significant opportunity,” said Pickett. “I’ve been preparing diligently to stay ready. After feeling good about my last game preparations, a week of practice will make me even more confident going into the stadium.”
Pickett, a first-round selection from Pitt in 2022, had a 14-10 record as a starter for the Steelers.
Tanner McKee will move up to the backup quarterback position for the Eagles, while QB Ian Book was signed to the practice squad this week.
There have been instances where quarterbacks returned to play after a week in the league’s concussion protocol, as seen with Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence last season against Tampa Bay.
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He was put in the protocol but recovered in time to play the next game against Tampa Bay.
The Eagles (12-3) might choose to play it safe and rest Hurts, needing a win against Dallas or the New York Giants for NFC East and the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Hurts overcame a slow start to the season by throwing 18 touchdowns and only five interceptions, making the Eagles a Super Bowl contender. His contribution, particularly in rushing touchdowns, has been remarkable this season.
The Eagles won the Super Bowl in the 2017 season with backup QB Nick Foles stepping up when Carson Wentz suffered a late-season injury.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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