The Eagles suffered their first loss since September today, losing for just the third time this season at the hands of division rivals Commanders. While Washington finally got a win over a team with a current winning record, many will likely put an asterisk on the result because the Eagles are quarterback Jalen hurts only played for a drive and a half.

Hurts left the game early in the first quarter after the Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner brought him down after a 13-yard run. As Hurts was brought to the ground, his helmet made solid contact with the turf, causing the referees to pull him off the field before the next play. This forced Philadelphia to use a backup passer Kenny Pickettand soon after, Hurts was ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion.

Concussions are typically not widely reported. This is partly because the range of recovery times after a concussion varies greatly. We’ve seen many players go through the NFL’s concussion protocol in a matter of days and not miss any time. However, this year we have seen frequent examples of a player being placed on injured reserve due to a concussion. If the severity of Hurts’ injury is anywhere near the latter situation, it could be detrimental to the Eagles.

This is just speculation as we won’t know the full situation until further testing is done. If the injury affects Hurts’ availability in the coming weeks, it could cost Philadelphia a chance at a first-round bye and home-court advantage in the playoffs. And if he has to sit out more than two weeks, he could also miss the playoffs. The team is just one win (or a Commanders loss) away from securing a home playoff game, so they may not be able to afford to give Hurts a break, despite playing in the remaining two games against the struggling Cowboys and the humble Giants have to play.

A little rest could do Hurts some good, however, as a recent report from NBC Philadelphia’s John Clark reveals that a broken finger on Hurts’ left hand has affected his game, particularly his ball control. The division winners, who currently hold the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds in the NFC, won’t be able to match the Eagles’ 12 wins. So if Philadelphia is willing to accept the No. 2 seed behind Detroit (the Lions only need (a win in their final two games to secure home-field advantage for the playoffs), they might be able to give Hurts some time to rest and recover.