Eagles receive some much needed good news ahead of important stretch of the season
The Philadelphia Eagles received some much-needed positive news on Sunday morning ahead of an important stretch of the season. According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, quarterback Jalen Hurts will be ready to go in week 18 against the New York Giants. But he'll only be needed if the Eagles fail to beat the […]
The Philadelphia Eagles received some much-needed positive news on Sunday morning ahead of an important stretch of the season.
According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, quarterback Jalen Hurts will be ready to go in week 18 against the New York Giants. But he'll only be needed if the Eagles fail to beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
If Philly beats New Orleans, they'll wrap up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, making the week 18 game against the Giants meaningless.
But if the Eagles lose on Sunday with Garnder Minshew under center, they'll need to beat the Giants to earn the No. 1 seed.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will not play Sunday against the Saints but is expected to be available for Philadelphia's regular-season finale against the Giants, league sources told ESPN.
Whether and how much Hurts plays in Week 18 will be heavily influenced by what happens Sunday against the Saints.
If the Eagles beat the Saints, they will lock up the NFC's No. 1 seed and not have to play Hurts the following Sunday against New York. But Philadelphia could decide to get Hurts, who is dealing with a sprained SC joint in his right shoulder, a brief tuneup next Sunday before having its bye in the wild-card round and hosting a game in the divisional round.
But if the Eagles fail to beat the Saints and do not secure the No. 1 seed Sunday, then Hurts would be expected to play against the Giants, according to league sources.
Schefter's report noted that the Eagles aren't concerned about Hurts' effectiveness when he returns.
"The Eagles have no worries about Hurts' availability and effectiveness for the playoffs, according to a source," wrote Schefter. "He returned to practice this past week, and the team was impressed with the velocity and accuracy of his throws."
That's obviously great news for Philly. If the Eagles are going to finish this season off with a parade, they'll need Hurts at full strength.
The one concern, of course, is how the long layoff will affect him. It's a legitimate concern, but there's no way to know if it'll be an issue until we see Hurts back on the field.
Featured image via Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
