Three days before the Eagles' divisional game against the Cowboys in Philadelphia, and the final Sunday for millions of fantasy football leagues across the country, Jalen Hurts is still undergoing concussion treatment.
Head coach Nick Sirianni did not provide an update on the star signal caller's status when speaking to the media on Thursday, but Philadelphia signed QB Ian Book to the practice squad a day after visiting the team on Christmas. It appears they are hedging their bets by signing the contract.
The Eagles did not host a practice on Wednesday, but if they had, Hurts would have been designated as “not practicing” and Pickett would have been “restricted” due to a rib injury he sustained in Week 16 against Washington. did.
Tanner McKee, 24, currently ranks third in the Eagles' quarterback depth, with Book, 26, the fourth option.
Pickett, 26, was forced out just minutes into last Sunday's game after Hurts took a hit from Commanders linebacker Frankie Lube.
On the play earlier, Hurts had hit the side of his helmet on the turf at the end of a run play.
Hurts was ruled out for the second of two times in the medical tent. His concussion evaluation followed shortly thereafter.
AP
Pickett, a former Steelers starter, was active but lackluster in his first meaningful game in more than a year.
He had an interception to Luv and a 4-yard touchdown to wide receiver AJ Brown.
The third-year signal-caller finished the contest with 14 of 24 wins as the Eagles failed to capture the division championship and one of the top two seeds in the conference.
If Hurts and Pickett are absent Sunday, the starting spot will likely fall to McKee, a sixth-round pick of the Eagles in 2023.
He never took a snap in an NFL game.
Behind McKee sits Book, a 2021 fourth-round pick by the Saints who hasn't seen the gridiron since his rookie year.
In Week 16 against the Dolphins, the Notre Dame graduate had 12 completions and two interceptions, allowing the Saints to score just three points.
When asked if Book was placed on the practice squad because of the uncertain status of Hurts and Pickett, Sirianni dodged the question.
“This week was an opportunity to add Ian here, and we took advantage of that opportunity,” the head coach said. “I really enjoyed my time with him when he was here.” [in training camp and on the practice squad in 2023] And I had high hopes for him. [Book is] He's familiar with a lot of things here and we're excited to have him on board. ”
A win against the Cowboys on Sunday will clinch Philadelphia the NFC East title.
The league didn't seem to have high hopes for the game, which was originally scheduled to kickoff at 4:25 p.m., but it was moved to 1 p.m. ET.
