The Eagles are managing Jalen Hurts’ health to reach the postseason healthy

PHILADELPHIA – Warm-ups were underway at Wednesday’s practice, and the guys in red pins were bobbing the ball up and down, waiting to really get in. Well, only two in the red pinnie did – Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee.

The third quarterback put away his shoulder pads and helmet and worked on his flexibility with a large band and a trainer. This is part of the Eagles’ plan to get Jalen Hurts relatively healthy for the postseason, something that has been a struggle in previous seasons when he had a shoulder problem one year and an ankle injury another.

“I think it’s all about that,” he said after practice. “I think it’s for all of us as well, the whole team is ready to go at this time of year … I think that’s the mentality of where we are.

“We’re in a phase of the year where things could very easily – well, they didn’t end the way we wanted – and so that’s top of mind and in the back of our minds as we go into this phase, and putting emphasis on finish strong. Puts ourselves in a good spot.”

Hurts was listed as limited with an ankle injury on Wednesday, something head coach Nick Sirianni spilled the beans about last week.

As he always does when it comes to his health, Hurts pulled it.

“Just a little program we have for the mini-bye,” he said. “I’m fine. … Really, throughout the year, you just really have to make sure you do the things you have to do to stay on top of things. That’s kind of what we do. A lot of other players do too.”

Yes, but he’s the quarterback, and a healthy Hurts is a Hurts that can get this team to the Super Bowl like he did two years ago.

Just as the bye came at the right time all the way back in Week 5, the mini-city also came at just the right time.

“Yeah, I’d say so,” Hurts said. “It’s kind of crazy how it’s played out because we’ve had this early bye week and then we’ve had this time here. And then even talking about our game in general, evaluating things and taking the bye week going through the same process and seeing how we can be more efficient and clean up the little things. Just having those conversations and trying to build.”

The Eagles won all six games after the bye. If they win their last seven, they’ll finish 15-2, and that would likely mean the road to New Orleans and the Super Bowl would lead through Philly.

It starts with the Rams in a primetime Sunday night, and while finishing the season with a 13-game winning streak seems highly unlikely, the only way the Eagles have a chance to do the improbable is with a healthy Hurts.

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