Eagles QB injured vs. Commanders, ruled out

The Eagles are in the midst of a magical season, but without their star quarterback, the magic could quickly run out.

Jalen Hurts is one of the Eagles players Philadelphia can least afford to lose. That’s exactly what happened on Sunday when the quarterback left the team’s Week 16 game with a head injury.

The Eagles hope to win the NFC East while staying in the race for first place in the NFC. Now they instead have to worry about the health of a quarterback they can’t replace.

Here’s the latest on Hurts.

Jalen Hurts injury update

Hurts is out with a concussion.

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He will now be placed in the league’s concussion protocol and must go through the five-step process before he can return to play. The Eagles only have two games left in the regular season, with a matchup against the Cowboys coming up in Week 17. They will finish the season against the Giants.

According to the Eagles, Hurts was evaluated for a concussion after his head hit the turf during a first-quarter duel against the Commanders.

Kenny Pickett was assigned to replace Hurts and capped his first drive with a touchdown pass to AJ Brown. Pickett was also involved in the Eagles’ ensuing offensive possession and will lead the team the rest of the way today.

After Hurts entered the blue medical tent, he appeared briefly with his helmet on and appeared to get back into the game. However, he was then taken to the locker room for further examination.

What is the concussion protocol in the NFL?

The NFL’s concussion protocol is designed to ensure a player’s safety after a head injury. It is a five-step process that a player must complete before they can play again. These steps are, as defined by the NFL:

Symptom limited activity
Aerobic exercises
Soccer specific exercise
Club-based non-contact training exercises
Full soccer activity/release

Before a player enters the protocol, he is evaluated on the sidelines. The tests are carried out by the team doctor and an independent neurotrauma consultant. The assessment includes observation of any “no-go” symptoms such as loss of consciousness, confusion, amnesia and more, in addition to concussion history, other signs/symptoms and a video review.

At this time a neurological examination will be carried out and the player will be accompanied to the dressing room if the secondary examination raises doubts. Since Hurts was taken to the locker room, we can assume he didn’t meet all the criteria and needed a more in-depth evaluation.

Protocol now requires Hurts to complete these five steps to receive medical clearance before he can play again.

Eagles QB depth chart

Here’s a look at the Eagles’ remaining quarterback depth without Hurts:

McKee is the designated emergency quarterback on Sunday, meaning he will only come into play if both Hurts and Pickett need to be taken out of action.

Jalen Hurts stats

Hurts was just 1-for-4 passing before the exit and completed his only pass for 11 yards. He also added three carries for 41 yards.

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Eagles QB injured vs. Commanders, ruled out

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