by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has sprained his right shoulder and his status for Philadelphia’s game at Dallas is uncertain, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press on Monday.
Hurts was injured Sunday in a win over Chicago, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the injury.
Hurts led the Eagles to a 13-1 record and the NFL’s best record. The 24-year-old has emerged as a serious NFL MVP contender in his second season as a starter.
Hurts threw for 22 touchdowns and had 3,472 passing yards, and he rushed for 747 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He took several big hits against the Bears and landed hard on his shoulder when he was tackled by defensive tackle Travis Gipson. Hurts didn’t appear to be in pain when he spoke to the media after the game and brushed off questions about the slow recovery from some tackles.
“Feel good, listening to my Anita Baker, gave me candy on the plane home, watch the tape, learn from it and move on,” he said. “It wasn’t the first time I was slow, it won’t be the last. I didn’t play a really physical game.
The Eagles need one more win to clinch the NFC East and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They would look to backup QB Gardner Minshew to start Saturday’s game against the Cowboys. The fourth-year QB has had limited garbage time action this season, but started two games for the Eagles last year and threw for four touchdowns and had 439 passing yards.
Philadelphia’s sensational season means the Eagles can play it safe and rest Hurts so he’s ready for the playoffs. Hurts had been an MVP favorite on most betting sites, but fell to 7-1 on Monday. Additionally, the Cowboys are now a six-point favorite to beat the Eagles.
After Dallas, the Eagles close out the season with home games against New Orleans and the New York Giants. If they won the No. 1 seed in the conference, the Eagles could play up to two home games at Lincoln Financial Field in the playoffs.
Hurts recently celebrated two years since being promoted to starter at the end of the 2020 season against the ineffective Carson Wentz. The Eagles’ decision at the time to draft Hurts in the second round with the 53rd overall pick in 2020, when the Eagles had much more pressing needs, was anyone’s guess. But Wentz was traded to Indianapolis and the Eagles stuck with the 2019 Heisman Trophy runner-up and saw him become one of the best QBs in the NFL.
Hurts’ 35 total touchdowns this season tied the franchise record set by Randall Cunningham in 1990. He threw two interceptions against the Bears after throwing just three total all season. But he rushed for three touchdowns for the second time in his career. He passed 22 of 37 for 315 yards in Sunday’s 25-21 win.
“When things are going a certain way on the pitch or maybe it’s not what we want, we stick together and find a way to work it out,” Hurts said.
Now the Eagles will likely have to do the same as they prepare to play without Hurts.
