While it is true that defense wins championships, the current NFL is all about the quarterback. That makes the Philadelphia Eagles extremely fortunate to have Jalen Hurts on their roster. He may not get as much attention as some of the league’s other signal-callers, but he’s an important element of the City of Brotherly Love’s recent success.
Talent, on the other hand, cannot keep you healthy. Hurts is also reportedly sick ahead of the Eagles’ Monday night game against the Seattle Seahawks.
It’s unclear what condition he’ll be in come game time, so let’s look at what we do know. What exactly is going on with Hurts? And, if he struggles, what choices do the Eagles have after him?
Hurts’ illness has reduced his status.
In the realm of professional sports, injury reports aren’t always clear. “Questionable,” for example, tells us nothing more than that the player in question may enter the fray.#
But, for better or worse, that’s where Hurts finds himself.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter claimed on Sunday that the quarterback was sick and that his condition had worsened over the night. Hurts’ condition was reduced to “questionable,” but he still planned to travel to Seattle. He would, however, fly alone in order to keep the rest of his teammates healthy.
We hadn’t received much further information as of Monday afternoon.
“Just knowing Jalen Hurts and seeing him operate, I believe also he is going to play, mainly because he always plays,” said Ian Rapoport, ESPN analyst. “But it’s not a cold. This is no small matter. It’s not the flu, either, but it’s something that made him feel weak enough that he wondered if he’d be able to fly at all. Perhaps this is not a good idea. I ended up not joining the squad since I was suffering from fatigue and other flu-like symptoms, but it wasn’t the virus. So it’ll be interesting to see if he goes tonight.”
Hurts, as Rapoport pointed out, isn’t one to miss games lightly. He’s been dealing with a knee ailment this season, and the last time he missed a game was at the end of the 2022 season. Since taking over as head coach, he has begun 15 games in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
And, while every player, especially one as important to the team as the franchise quarterback, will want to be there, prudence is sometimes the better part of valor. Playing through illness is easier said than done, as Patrick Mahomes demonstrated earlier this season.
Behind Hurts, who is the Eagles’ backup?
Given Hurts’ all-league talent and durability, you’d be forgiven if you weren’t paying attention to the Eagles’ quarterback depth chart. However, in instances like this, the backup will receive some attention.
Marcus Mariota, the second-overall choice in the 2015 NFL Draft, is that man. He never became a star, however, and spent two disappointing seasons on the Raiders’ roster. In 2022, he joined the Falcons and won the starting job before losing it to Desmond Ridder.
Then, before of the 2023 season, Mariota signed with the Eagles as the team’s backup quarterback. He has appeared twice this season but has not played a significant part in either outing.
While Mariota didn’t exactly light up the preseason, it’s worth noting that his dual-threat skill makes him a viable substitute for Hurts. Can he perform at the same level as the number one? Of course not, but his presence means the Eagles won’t have to entirely redo their playbook if their starting quarterback is unable to play.
In any case, Philadelphia might want to keep things simple.
It’s unknown whether Jalen Hurts will be able to attend. If he intends to play through his illness, we may not even get a definitive response until after warm-ups. Even with that limitation, Monday may be a night when simplicity reigns supreme.
Whether it’s a hurt Hurts or a deputizing Mariota under center, the Eagles offense won’t be at full strength. Add in the Seattle weather, which is anticipated to be in the 40s with showers that will fade as the night progresses, and Monday is probably not the time to be throwing deep bombs. Given the quality of Philadelphia’s offensive line and D’Andre Swift’s performance this season, relying on short passes and the ground game could be the difference between win and defeat. Mariota may not be a world-beater, but he and a somewhat fit Hurts can both get through an NFL game.
Style points can go out the window at this point in the season; it’s all about winning the games in front of you to keep climbing the standings.
And, with Hurts playing through his ailments in the best-case scenario, Monday Night is a “survive and advance” type of game.
