The Eagles are the 15th team since the 1970 merger to start 13-1. Their September win over the Vikings currently gives them a three-game lead in the NFC’s home-field advantage race. This would allow for caution regarding injured players, and Jalen Hurts‘ status has now come up on this front.
This season’s MVP frontrunner suffered a shoulder sprain during the Eagles’ win over the Bears on Sunday, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). This is not considered to be an injury that threatens Hurts’ playoff status, but the Eagles are preparing for the possibility Gardner Minshew starts against the Cowboys in Week 16 (Twitter link).
A Hurts return might take a bit longer, given the circumstances. The injury is to Hurts’ throwing shoulder, and with the team wanting him at full strength when he comes back, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane adds the third-year quarterback faces the prospect of missing Philadelphia’s next two games or being shut down until the playoffs. Were the Eagles to sit the MVP until the postseason, it would likely give him more than a month of recovery time. The divisional round begins Jan. 21.
Hurts suffered the injury on a third-quarter hit from Bears defensive end Trevis Gipson, who tackled the third-year passer on one of his 17 carries — which matched a season-high mark — in Week 15. While Hurts has made considerable strides as a passer this season, his rushing ability is a major part of Philly’s offense. The former second-round pick has amassed 747 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, three of those coming against the Bears on Sunday. Hurts, however, has either been hit or tackled 184 times this season, per ESPN, with that total ranking behind only Justin Fields and Daniel Jones.
Minshew started one game in relief of Hurts last season, filling in after Hurts suffered an ankle injury. The former Jaguars draftee should be viewed as likely to make another start Saturday, McLane adds. Hurts, who was not quite as effective after returning from that injury last year, underwent ankle surgery this offseason. He has removed previous doubt about an ability to be a high-end starting quarterback, and the Eagles have a recent history of securing a No. 1 seed without their starting quarterback. Nick Foles replaced Carson Wentz to land the NFC’s top seed five years ago. Wentz was on the cusp of MVP acclaim when he went down with an ACL tear, but Foles ended up lifting the team to a Super Bowl title. It does not appear the Eagles will need to consider Minshew for the playoffs, however, representing obvious good news for the league’s only team with fewer than three losses.
The Eagles host the Saints in Week 17, and the Giants will visit Philly to close out the regular season. Minshew went 20 of 25 for 242 yards and two touchdowns in his start against the Jets last season. He also started in Week 18 against the Cowboys, as the Eagles rested starters. After Dallas was forced to start Cooper Rush in its early-season matchup in Philadelphia, it is looking like this high-profile rivalry will not involve a Hurts-Dak Prescott duel this time around either.
That ought to turn “America’s NFC East GAME OF THE DECADE!!!” into a damp squib for Fox.
Incidentally, Philadelphia needs only 1 win from its last 3 games to clinch both the NFC East and the NFC #1 seed.
Looks like Ian Book will dress as the backup QB. This is Minshew’s chance to audition for a potential starting job somewhere for next season.
Hopefully Hurts will be back in time to be ready for the playoffs
In my opinion, Minshew’s past work has already given him a good enough resume to compete for a starting contract somewhere. If he had been allowed to become a free agent, I think that he would have signed a good bridge starter sort of deal somewhere.
Philadelphia’s offense takes advantage of Hurts’ mobility as a fundamental pillar of its scheme. Minshew is no statue, but I would not say exactly that it’s the best system for him specifically. He does have the advantage of having great support and the momentum of a great season to help compensate for coming cold on what will likely be a limited playbook. Unfortunately, that first start may be against one of the league’s best defenses, one that features an opportunistic corner and reliable edge pressure. I feel that it should be a good game regardless, because Minshew is at least capable as a player.
AK185, you and I usually see things in the same light. However, as a 50+ years long-suffering Saints fan, Minshew will come out and expose the Saints defense for what they are this year:average. They look good until the game is on the line, or they need a crucial stop (Tampa Bay) and they choke. I completely agree that Minshew has the resume, and if a team were prone to build around and throw a few weapons his way, and combine that with a good defense, they’d win games. I wouldn’t be opposed to the Saints kicking the tires on him next year, if they could get a few weapons around him. Dalton, with the exception of the Arizona game, hasn’t been the problem this year.
I agree with everything you’ve said. The team I was referring to, however, was the Cowboys on Christmas Eve.
@sascoach2003
I believe AK185 was referring to Dallas when implying Minshew is set to face one of the league’s best defense, although I understand the confusion, as he will likely play the Saints the following week.
I think Minshew would be a good fit in New Orleans as well; even if he doesn’t emerge as the answer, he could at least serve as a stopgap until the Saints again have the draft capital to obtain their future signal caller. It remains to be seen, however, if Minshew reciprocates such interest. The Saints lack both the financial flexibility and draft picks to make significant improvements and may need to enter a bit of a retooling stage. The Saints could have competition from the Jets, Giants, and Washington, which are all potentially in need of a quarterback upgrade, yet have a better surrounding cast IMO.
Additionally, the Saints no longer have Payton at the helm, meaning the offensive scheme isn’t nearly as attractive as it once was. I feel Dennis Allen is not long for his job, being a much better fit as a coordinator. If I were New Orleans, I would be targeting the Shane Steichens and Shane Waldrons of the world, if possible
I totally agree with you both. My bad on not picking up on the Cowboys LOL. Not enough coffee yet
All good brother!
So Hurts has already been named MVP?
Did you get so mad after three words that you couldn’t continue reading the sentence?
It literally says in the third paragraph “were the eagles to sit the MVP” I don’t think it was in your best interest to assumes someone’s feelings only to be extremely incorrect. Happy holidays. Try to smile some
It literally calls him the “MVP frontrunner” the paragraph before.
So pick and choose what “facts” you want to apply?
The first mention makes it clear that there was a word missing from the second one. If you’re going to flip out over a typo, you’re on the wrong site.
Flip out? Lol oh you’re adorable. Coming from the person pretty much just gaslighting anyone they comment about. Precious little angel you are.
It “literally” doesn’t matter since Hurts isn’t going to win the MVP anyway.
—Patrick Mahomes
Shouldn’t have tossed those batteries at Santa…
I think you meant snowballs.
Wrong sport…the Phillies fans threw batteries at J.D. drew in a game against Drew’s Cardinals in 1999.
Eagles fans threw snowballs at Santa in 1968, but to tell you the truth…he was a *lousy* Santa.
As a Cardinals fan I can tell you, Santa wasn’t nearly as lousy as JD Drew was.
Great, now the anti-designed run people will be INSUFFERABLE.
Definitely NOT the front runner for MVP
MVP is Patrick Mahomes by a landslide and him getting hurts (haha) only cements it. But it was obvious before the injury
Exactly!!!
only in Philly. Mahomes is the front runner
To be fair to the writers, MVP many times comes to being simply the quarterback of the team with the best record and a lot of momentum. The Eagles may or may not go deep in the playoffs, but they’re the best all around team in the NFL and Hurts is their QB. I think a lot of people would automatically make him MVP without a thought (I don’t think that’s necessarily my choice, but it’s not wrong to assume that based on last history).
I’m not an Eagles fan. I’m not a Chiefs fan. But if MVP voting were to happen today, it’s Hurts. Here’s a guy who literally came out of nowhere and led the Eagles to being the best team in the NFC, if not the entire league
Mahomes has had a great season, but on a team that was expected to do well
That all said, I’m surprised the Eagles have insisted on running Hurts and having him pound it in himself in goal line situations. The last thing they need is for him to go down at playoff time
No it’s not lol. ‘Come out of nowhere’ the guy was a Pro Bowl QB last year and led his team to the playoffs, on top of being a mid second round pick and former heisman winner. This isn’t Kurt Warner, this absolutely did not come out of no where. Mahomes is the MVP… Imagine discrediting him for ‘expected to do well’. When they lost Tyreke, and the Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers were ALL adding highly notable pieces (Russ, Adams, Khalil Mack) they were supposed to take down the Chiefs. The Chiefs dynasty was over!! Mahomes can do anything he wants with as little talent as possible, he’s just THAT good.
Also not an Eagles, or KC fan.
Where the NFL is concerned, it’s the age old question about “most valuable” meaning? Best player on the best team? Best season? Most indispensable player?
You’re right about Hurts last year but it’s appropriate to say he blossomed this year, no?
As for Mahomes, he’s a great QB but I don’t remember anyone saying they were going to be in the bottom half of their division this year, just as I don’t remember anyone predicting the Eagles would be 13-1
But I’ll remind you at the end of the season
A landslide?
No longer moving forward but after last week all of the betting books had Hurts as the favorite before this injury.
Jalen hurts his shoulder. Feel better.
Lol. This is a chess move. The Dallas game means nothing. We need just one win for #1 seed. This isn’t a wentz situation like before. Just like the 49ers there isn’t nothing else to prove in the reg season tbh
When you QB begins to believe he really is the #1 RB….injuries are going to happen….see RG 111 in DC!
The entire Eagles offense ( including his passing game yards) is effective because of the running threat Hurts poses….it sets up the entire offense….take that away, and they probably are still pretty solid but certainly not the power they have been before the injury.
Who the hell is RG one hundred and eleven?
Robert Griffin III, formerly of the Washington Redskins, now tearing it up as a game analyst for ESPN college football.
RIP Season, this will annihilate the momentum, 49ers will be NFC Champs this year.
I love fortune tellers. How will my investments do in the next year?
better then his predictions
Not if he bought into Blockbuster franchises like I did, people will always rent movies.
Only Dolphin fans are still lining up to rent the Pet Detective movie.
Is it me or does no one really mention that the NFC East plays the weakest schedule? The Eagles opponents average a record of 6-8. That factors in the other NFC East opponents playing the same weak teams. I could see the Vikings or 49ers beating the Eagles for the NFC title.