The Eagles are set to take on the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round on Sunday.However, they might have to do it with a backup quarterback at the helm of their offense.
Head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed to reporters on Monday that Hurts is still in the concussion protocol entering this week.
“I have no new information,” he said.
“Like I said yesterday he’s progression through the (concussion) protocol.”
While it was speculated that the Eagles were being cautious with Hurts after locking up the No. 2 seed, his remaining in the concussion protocol raised some red flags for his availability later in the week.
The Eagles’ backup quarterbacks have shown promise in relief of Hurts this season, with Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee handling the offense well in the last two weeks.
Pickett threw for 143 yards with one touchdown and one interception in relief of Hurts on December 22, before throwing for 143 yards with one touchdown and rushing for another on December 29
He was hurt in the second game though, and missed the final game of the season with a rib injury.
McKee played the final game of the season against the New York Giants, throwing for 269 yards with two touchdowns.
There is no telling which quarterback will play on Sunday if Hurts doesn’t clear the protocol and Pickett is back to full health.
It is possible that the Eagles held Pickett out of the contest on Sunday to allow him to heal up for the possibility that Hurts doesn’t clear the protocol in time for the Wild Card game.
There is a possibility that Hurts is healthy and just hasn’t met the requirements to clear the concussion protocol.
NFL players have to participate in practice to clear the protocol, which Hurts didn’t do last week as he was never going to play the game.
Once he participates in practice, the Eagles will be forced to reveal more information about his progression through the concussion protocol.
While the Eagles deal with the injury to their quarterback, their opponents are also struggling with some injuries
The Packers lost their top receiver, Christian Watson, to a torn ACL during the final week of the season.
He will miss the entirety of the Packers’ playoff run.
Quarterback Jordan Love also sustained an injury to his elbow, leaving him questionable for the Wild Card game.
If Hurts and Love can’t play it could be a battle of the backups on Sunday night.
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