December 26, 2024   4 MIN READ

What Lies Ahead?

QB Uncertainty Heading Into Dallas Game

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PHILADELPHIA – As badly as Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts wants to be on the field Sunday, his availability isn’t up to him and has nothing to do with pain tolerance.

Life in the NFL’s concussion protocol can be fickle, leaving players in a state of limbo.

A player’s immediate future – as it pertains to returning to the field – is dependent solely on an extensive protocol process designed to maximize player safety.

Hurts, of course, exited Sunday’s game against the Commanders on the heels of a 13-yard run. He never re-entered the game, as he was ultimately ruled out with a concussion.

His exit gave way to his backup, Kenny Pickett, taking the reins the rest of the way.

Pickett was spotty with his ball placement and held the ball for far too long, resulting in a trio of sacks, but there were also some good moments despite the Eagles losing 36-33 at Northwest Stadium.

Taking the field cold and in a high-leverage moment, Pickett converted a 3rd-and-7, connecting with wide receiver A.J. Brown for a 10-yard completion. He completed his first three pass attempts, for 20 yards, culminating in a 4-yard strike to Brown for a touchdown.

Kenny Pickett getty

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles QB Kenny Pickett could get the call again Sunday against the Cowboys.

In total, Pickett went 14 of 24 for 143 yards, including a touchdown and an interception.

Shaky as he was at times, Pickett did enough to position the Eagles for a win. And he’s likely to get the call Sunday in what’s as close to a must-win game as there is.

The confidence shown by his offensive coordinator suggested Pickett checked off some critical boxes in his first extended game action of the season.

“I thought Kenny responded really well as far as just hopping in there,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said Tuesday. “I thought the way he handled the first drive, he hopped in there, it was a 3rd-and-7 and converted. Resulted in a touchdown that drive.

“I thought he certainly did a lot of good things in the game. Ultimately, we all collectively didn’t do enough to finish that game. I think it’s an awesome opportunity for us to all learn and grow from, but I thought Kenny battled the whole entire way.”

Complicating matters slightly is that Pickett underwent testing after the game on his ribs, because of a play in which he landed on Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner following a last-ditch attempt at a shovel pass.

He underwent further testing the day after the game and was listed on Wednesday’s estimated practice report as limited. Thursday afternoon’s post-practice report will reveal more about his Sunday availability.

But if given a full week to prepare with the first-team offense, especially his wide receivers, and to work closely alongside Moore to determine what plan of attack best suits his skill set, Pickett should be much more prepared against a suddenly resurgent Cowboys team traveling to Lincoln Financial Field with an opportunity to play spoiler.

A loss, coupled with a Commanders win over the Falcons, would box the Eagles into a corner, setting the stage for a definitive must-win scenario in the regular season finale against the lowly New York Giants – the worst possible scenario for preserving key players.

But don’t expect the Eagles, who have maintained a consistent preparation process of keeping focused on on the moment, not to look back or ahead.

There’s an understanding at the NovCare Complex about the recent success of Dallas, led by reserve quarterback Cooper Rush.

“They’re playing extremely well here the last five games,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Tuesday. “They’re moving the ball. I think they have found their niche with Rush at quarterback, and they’re doing a good job.

“They’re running it well. They’re mixing in the play pass and the boots very well. Obviously, CeeDee Lamb is having a banner year. They have a good tight end in Ferguson. The back has really come alive lately.

“They’re not the same offense that we saw, however many weeks ago that was.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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