All eyes will be on Jalen Hurts this week with the health of the Eagles quarterback in question ahead of the NFC Championship game.
Hurts, who took seven sacks during Sundayâs 28-22 Divisional Round victory against the Rams, was seen walking into the tunnel to the locker room in a video by Yahoo Sportsâ Jori Epstein, seemingly in some discomfort as an NFL staffer guides him with a hand on his back.
After the game, Hurts played coy about any potential injuries heâs dealing with after such a hard-fought contest.
Hurts responded with a smile, âI finished the game,â when asked if he was ok after the win.
Hurts appeared hobbled in the first half, but it was a third-quarter hit where his left leg was caught under Rams defensive back Jaylen McCollough that sent him to the blue medical tent before returning.
NFL Networkâs Ian Rapoport said on Monday morning that Hurts avoided major injury, however, it will be a dramatic week ahead of the showdown with the Commanders.
âJalen Hurts hates nothing more than talking about his injuries, so I am expecting an awkward, tense week but I do expect him to play,â Rapoport said.
Hurt was asked about the injury in a postgame interview by NBCâs Melissa Stark.
âIâm sure Iâll get asked about it later, I donât know if I can answer right now, but Iâm gonna go enjoy this win with my teammates,â Hurts added after the game about the injury.
Hurts promptly responded, âYes,â when asked if he would play against Washington.
One fantasy sports doctor posted a video of the play where Hurts was sacked by McCollough, speculating that he could have injured his meniscus, although some others on social media suspect this could point to a high ankle sprain.
âJalen Hurts Grabbed his left knee after this play, and he could he âtweakedâ his meniscus here. His right leg/knee also was placed in an awkward position. Something to monitor. Hopefully itâs nothing,â social media personality @DrJesseMorse said on X.
How much practice time and reps Hurts gets will be a daily storyline this week.
The last time these two teams faced off, the Eagles jumped ahead to a 21-0 lead before Hurts was pulled from the game due to a concussion, and the Commanders rallied for a 36-33 victory.
Hurts finished Sundayâs win over the Rams, going 15-for-20 pᴀssing for just 128 yards as snowy conditions and Saquon Barkley were the stories of the game.
Hurts ran for 70 yards in the game with most of that production coming on a 44-yard touchdown run on the Eaglesâ opening possession.
That would be enough as Barkley exploded for 205 yards and two long touchdown runs.