Eagles QB Jalen Hurts remains in concussion protocol

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles coach Nick Sirianni signaled that Kenny Pickett will get the start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys as Jalen Hurts continues to recover from a concussion.

“(Hurts) is still in the protocol. It’s going to be tough for him to make it this week,” Sirianni said Friday before the quarterback was officially ruled out.

Hurts left last week’s game against the Washington Commanders midway through the first quarter after his head collided with the turf when he was hit by linebacker Frankie Luvu while going to the ground after a 13-yard run.

Hurts was replaced by Pickett, who went 14-of-24 for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 36-33 loss.

Pickett injured his ribs in the fourth quarter when he was tackled in the backfield by linebacker Bobby Wagner. He remained in the game but had X-rays taken immediately afterward and follow-up tests Monday.

Pickett did not disclose the results of those tests, but said the injury “is something I’m going to have to deal with.” He plans to wear extra padding around the rib area in addition to the flak jacket he normally wears on game day.

Tanner McKee will assume the role of No. 2 quarterback behind Pickett. A sixth-round pick out of Stanford in 2023, McKee has impressed in training camp and in preseason games over the past two seasons. He’s been working on taking snaps from center Cam Jurgens this week, so it won’t be new for him if he gets called on in Sunday’s game.

The Eagles’ chances of clinching the top seed in the NFC dropped to 4% after the loss to the Commanders, according to NFL NextGen Stats, but Philadelphia can still win the division with a win over Dallas or a Commanders loss or tie to the Atlanta Falcons.