The Philadelphia Eagles, including Jalen Hurts, all knew the consequences of the star quarterback returning for Week 18 — that playing was “going to hurt him like hell.”
And as of Tuesday, Hurts’ throwing shoulder was still sore.
But the good news for Hurts and the Eagles is that by winning Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, the Eagles clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC and bought themselves an extra week of rest.
“He came out sore as expected,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said Tuesday.
“We didn’t feel like we’re putting him at any more risk of getting more injured, but we knew it was going to hurt him like hell, and he knew it was going to hurt him like hell,” Sirianni added. “But that’s kind of player he is; that’s the kind of teammate he is. He fought through it, because it was important for him to be out there, and he knew how important it was him and to his teammates for him to be out there.”
All parties knew Hurts had to play since the Eagles dropped the two games he missed, with backup Gardner Minshew under center, after injuring his shoulder in Week 15 vs. Chicago.
But just how healthy Hurts will be for the NFC Divisional playoff game in less than two weeks is anybody’s guess.
“I’m not sure I can answer that question,” Sirianni said. “We are fortunate that we have two weeks until the next time we play. … He’s going to be a little bit more healthy than when he was obviously the other day.”
Hurts went 20-of-35 passing for 229 yards and an interception against the Giants. He’s thrown for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns against six INTs on the season.
Sirianni said Monday during his weekly radio appearance that Hurts wanted to buck the off day and watch tape from the Giants’ game.
“I know the coaches are off but Jalen said, ‘Hey, let’s watch the tape tomorrow.’ I said, ‘You got it,'” Sirianni said Monday on the WIP Morning Show. “He wanted to work and move on.”
The Eagles will host the team with the lowest seed either Jan. 21 or 22.
–Field Level Media
