Jan 03, 2025
PHILADELPHIA — Just a week before the playoffs begin, the Eagles could be down to their third-string quarterback. Jalen Hurts was still in concussion protocol on Friday, ruling him out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Giants, and backup Kenny Pickett was listed as questionable as he continues to nurse an injury to his ribs. That leaves Tanner McKee as the likely starter for a game against the Giants that means little to the Eagles. “He’s progressing through the protocol,” Sirianni reiterated of Hurts, who will miss his second straight game after suffering being injured two weeks ago in Washington. “Can’t say much more when guys are in the protocol except for that.” Hurts, like many Eagles starters, may have rested this week anyway, though that doesn’t mean he’s fine to play. He’d still need to be cleared by doctors to resume any activities, which hasn’t happened yet. He hasn’t been cleared for non-contact drills. Hurts will have to practice in some capacity for one day and show no negative side effects before being green-lit for game action. It looks increasingly likely that McKee and Ian Book will be the starting and backup quarterbacks, respectively. It would be McKee’s first NFL start and the Eagles’ third different starter in as many weeks. “Super excited, I feel very ready, very prepared,” said the 6-foot-6 McKee, who the Eagles drafted 188th overall out of Stanford in 2023. “I’m getting a ton of reps this week, which has been awesome, just with our guys. I feel like we have a good game plan. Honestly, I’m just really excited to go out and play football.” Tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) has showed signs of being his normal self since the team opened his 21-day practice window from injured reserve. In his absence, backup Grant Calcaterra has blocked well and made some big catches, but no one has emerged to fill Goedert’s role as a go-to third receiving option after A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. “He’s had a good week,” Sirianni said of Goedert. “Good to get him back out there. He’s a heck of a football player. We need him to accomplish the goals that we want to accomplish, and he’s had a really good week.” Saquon Barkley, who the Eagles announced Wednesday would sit against the Giants rather than chase the single-season rushing record, was listed as doubtful (rest), as were a slew of other starters. • • • Twelve Eagles were named reserves for the Pro Bowl on Friday: Brown, left tackle Jordan Mailata, rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, defensive end Josh Sweat, Hurts, cornerback Darius Slay, long-snapper Rick Lovato, punt returner/cornerback Cooper DeJean, punter Braden Mann, kicker Jake Elliott and veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, who suffered a season-ending triceps injury against the Rams on Nov. 24. Cam Jurgens, who moved from guard to center after Jason Kelce retired, talked about being named to his first Pro Bowl on Thursday. “I feel like before the season started, every day I was getting questioned about what it was like to take over for Kelce, this and that,” Jurgens said, smiling. “It was just like every single day, the same question, over and over, from you guys. And then the season started, and I felt like I was playing good, and I didn’t get a single question about that until just now. “I feel like I did good my first year. There’s still room to improve and do a lot better, but I’m happy. … I just tried to listen to my coaches, players and everybody around me in this building, and not listen to outside noise. At the end of the day, I’m just trying to step into my own shoes and do everything I can in my own power and not try to replace somebody or do what somebody else did. I’m just trying to do what I’m doing.” • • • Much has been made of the fact that if Barkley were to play this week and break Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards in a single season, he’d be doing so over 17 games instead of the 16 by Dickerson. But Barkley’s 2,005 yards have come on 345 carries, 34 fewer than it took Dickerson. Barkley’s season-high for attempts is 31, set last week against Dallas. He’s averaging 21.6 per game. Barkley is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, while Dickerson averaged 5.6 ypc in 1984, the highest of his career. Dickerson broke O.J. Simpson’s mark of 2,003, which Simpson set in a 14-game season on 332 carries (6.0 yards per attempt). *** NOTES: The Eagles have run for 100-plus yards in all 16 games this season. They lead the NFL with a team-record 2,997 rushing yards. The previous record of 2,715 was set in 2021. The average of 187.3 yards per game is the most in a season since 1950. … The Eagles are three rushing yards and one rushing TD shy of becoming just the second team in NFL history to rush for 3,000-plus yards and 30-plus touchdowns (1978 Patriots). … The Birds will be wearing their all-black uniforms, including black helmets, on Sunday against the Giants (1 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, CBS, 94.1-WIP FM).
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