As if the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t have enough issues to deal with, now it’s been announced that quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers due to a superficial blood clot.
Team doctors knew about the clot before last Sunday’s game in London, but Hurts was cleared to play. When they followed up this week, they found the clot had moved. That presents more danger, thus the need to keep Hurts off the field.
“On Wednesday night, a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the small blood clot,” the Eagles said Thursday in a statement. Jalen will be out for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers as we determine the appropriate course of treatment. His health and safety are our highest priority.”
Hurts’ injury is the latest setback for a 2-3 Eagles team. Saquon Barkley is one of several running backs injured — fourth-string back Dameon Pierce could be starting Sunday. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith is still out, and the offensive line — between injuries, trades and the retirement of Lane Johnson — is a shell of what it was when the season began.
The Eagles’ starting quarterback Sunday will be Tanner McKee, a fourth-year pro who has two career starts under his belt.
The 6-foot-6, 231-pound McKee, who was a sixth-round pick out of Stanford in 2023, is highly regarded by the Eagles. His only two starts were in Week 18 of the last two seasons — when playoff spots were already clinched and Hurts was being rested. Still, his career numbers are good. He’s completed 54 of 88 passes (61.4%) for 597 yards, five touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 95.7.
There’s never a good time to be injured, but this is particularly bad timing for Hurts.
There’s a contingent of fans and media who think the Super Bowl LIX MVP is overrated — a quarterback who has benefitted from the talent around him. Now that the talent around him has diminished, Hurts hasn’t exactly carried this team on his shoulders. In five games this season, he’s completed 89 of 154 pass attempts (57.8%) for eight touchdowns, three interceptions and a passer rating of 84.7. The completion percentage and passer rating would both be career lows since he became the full-time starter in 2021.
So what happens if McKee steps in and turns this team around?
In the wake of that disastrous loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London — when the Eagles allowed a long kickoff return that gave the Jaguars a chance to kick the game-winning field goal on the last play — it was fair to think a veteran team like this would be extra motivated to bounce back with a solid effort Sunday against the Panthers. Now, with a backup quarterback under center, they might be even more focused on putting together maximum effort.
The team isn’t ready to say Hurts will be back in one week. After Carolina, the Eagles play all three of their division rivals before a Week 10 bye. What if McKee puts together a winning streak that has the Eagles back in position to win a third-straight NFC East title?
Fans will certainly be quick to call for McKee to take over as the full-time starter. It’s really the most Philly sports thing you can expect.
Hurts has 118 career TD passes vs. 48 interceptions, along with 64 rushing touchdowns. He has one Super Bowl MVP to his credit and he also outplayed Super Bowl LVII MVP Patrick Mahomes in that game. The job will still belong to Hurts when he returns.
But just get ready for the Philly freakout. It’s coming.
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