Sirianni: Jalen Hurts Has Ankle Injury; Eagles PR Says QB Missed Practice for Rest

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVNovember 8, 2024

Adam Hunger/Getty Images

While speaking to reporters Friday, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni seemed to contradict quarterback Jalen Hurts’ reason for being listed on the injury report this week.

Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation posted a transcript of Sirianni’s exchange with media members, during which he said Hurts was on the injury report due to an ankle ailment:

NBC Sports Philadelphia @NBCSPhillyWait, what? 🤔😳

Nick Sirianni surprisingly hints that Jalen Hurts is dealing with an ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/WdbbiHV34B

The actual injury report had Hurts listed as a limited participant on Wednesday due to rest and then a full participant on Thursday.

An Eagles public relations worker chimed in during the exchange to say Hurts was on the injury report due to rest, and Sirianni followed up by saying, “It was a rest, yeah. Sorry, I thought you were talking about something else.”

Tim McManus of ESPN reported that Hurts has been dealing with a “mild” ankle injury for “a couple weeks.” A different source told McManus that the quarterback has “lower leg soreness,” and that his absence from practice was about load management.

The 26-year-old Hurts has started all eight games for the Eagles so far this season after starting all 17 games last season.

In addition to posting a 6-2 record this season, he is completing a career-best 69.8 percent of his passes for 1,774 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, while also rushing for 322 yards and eight scores.

Over the past five games, the Eagles are 4-1 and Hurts has not thrown an interception, while accounting for 14 total touchdowns.

Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett has attempted just one pass this season, and it occurred during the fourth quarter of a blowout win over the New York Giants after Hurts and other starters had been removed from the game.

Regardless of whether Hurts is dealing with an ankle ailment, all signs point toward him starting Sunday against the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys.

Also, despite missing the second half of the Eagles’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week with a knee injury, No. 1 wide receiver A.J. Brown is trending toward playing after practicing in full on Thursday.

The Eagles are tied with the Minnesota Vikings for the third-best record in the NFC so far this season, and they are only a half-game out of the NFC East lead.

Philly trails one of the biggest surprise teams in the league this season in the Washington Commanders, who are 7-2 behind the play of sensational rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The Eagles are expected to win this week against a Cowboys team that will be without starting quarterback Dak Prescott due to a hamstring injury, but they’ll need Hurts to be as healthy as possible for their Nov. 14 home game against Washington, which could be for the NFC East lead.