Is the Eagles QB out for Week 17?

On December 30, 2024By Littum

The Philadelphia Eagles will have to roll without Regret hurts in week 17.

At a press conference on Friday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said the starting quarterback was still in concussion protocol.

“It’s going to be tough for (Hurts) to make it this week,” Sirianni told ESPN’s Tim McManus.

Later that day, the Eagles officially announced that Hurts would be out of the team Week 17 game against Dallas Cowboys.

Hurts suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the Eagles’ Week 16 loss to Washington’s commanders and could not return to the game. Philadelphia’s backup quarterback, Kenny Pickettplayed the rest of the divisional game and is in line to start in Week 17.

The Eagles also got a quarterback Ian book to their practice squad Thursday in the wake of news that Pickett was also sidelined with a rib injury. However, Pickett was a full participant in practice on Thursday, so he should be good for Sunday’s game.

Second year quarterback Tanner McKee is also on Philadelphia’s roster.

What happened to Jalen Hurts?

Hurts suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the Eagles’ Week 16 loss to the Commanders in Washington.

The Eagles’ quarterback was on a designed run — a quarterback draw — and gained 13 yards before Washington linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu brought him down. During the tackle, Hurts’ head hit the ground.

It took the 26-year-old a few extra moments and help from one of his offensive linemen to get up. He made eye contact with umpire Alex Moore before giving the thumbs up, but Moore still sent Hurts off to receive a concussion evaluation.

The quarterback briefly went to the blue medical tent before returning to the Eagles sideline. Moments later, trainers sent Hurts back to the locker room, where he was officially diagnosed with a concussion and ruled out.

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Late Friday afternoon, the Eagles officially declared Hurts out for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys as he continues to recover from his concussion.

Earlier on Friday, Sirianni told reporters that Hurts was still in the NFL’s concussion protocol and that it would be “tough for him to make it through this week.”

Hurts was a non-participant in the Eagles’ Wednesday and Thursday practices, and multiple news outlets reported that the quarterback was nowhere to be seen at Friday’s practice.

This story has been updated with new information.

Hurts will miss the Eagles’ Week 17 game while in the NFL’s concussion protocol. His progress in the coming days will dictate whether the quarterback will miss more time.

There have been several players this season who have missed more than one game after a concussion diagnosis. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed four games earlier this year after suffering a head injury in Week 2. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence also ended up on injured reserve earlier this month after suffering a concussion in Week 13.

When Hurts returns depends on how much progress he is able to make in the concussion protocol in the coming days — and potentially weeks.

NFL concussion protocol rules

The NFL’s concussion protocol is a five-step process that every player diagnosed with a concussion must clear before returning to game day.

Here are the five steps, according to the NFL:

Symptom limited activity
Aerobic training
Soccer specific exercise
Club-based non-contact training exercises
Full football activity/clearance

Philadelphia hasn’t disclosed where Hurts is on the roster, but it’s clear he still has some way to go. As a result, he will miss Sunday’s game.