Philadelphia Eagles get brutal injury news in addition to Jalen Hurts uncertainty

The Eagles received more disappointing injury news in addition to the uncertainty of Jalen Hurts’  return from injury. 

At 13-2, the  Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the entire NFL; however, they have recently been cursed by injuries to their top players, the most significant being quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Hurts suffered a shoulder sprain in the Eagles’ Week 15 win over the Chicago Bears. He was then ruled out for the Week 16 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Ahead of the game against the Cowboys, Hurts’ game status for Week 17 was uncertain. However, it was recently stated by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that Hurts will try to return to help the Eagles earn the NFC’s No.1 seed and a first-round playoff bye.

While appearing on Monday’s Good Morning Football, Rapoport stated:

"“Had they beaten the Cowboys, I would say there’s no chance we were going to see Jalen Hurts this weekend against these New Orleans Saints, but the Eagles didn’t win, so now they need to win. They need to get the No.1 seed, still want to get a bye. It’s all out there for them. Jalen Hurts is going to push this week…Still up in the air about whether or not he goes. I’m just saying there’s at least a chance.”"

The Eagles won 13 games and lost one with Hurts this season. Gardner Minshew, Hurts’ backup, started in Week 16.

Before his injury, Hurts recorded 3,472 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and a 67.3 completion percentage. In the loss to Dallas, Minshew recorded 355 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

More injury news for the Eagles: Lane Johnson out until playoffs

As reported by Adam Schefter, the Eagles are hopeful that offensive tackle Lane Johnson, who has suffered an abdominal injury, will return for the postseason. However, Johnson is not expected to play again in the regular season.

Johnson’s injury is a big one for Philadelphia as in Week 15, Johnson set a mark for the most consecutive pass plays without allowing a sack (928 snaps over 27 games), the longest streak amongst all offensive linemen since Pro Football Focus started tracking data in 2006.

The offensive tackle ideally wants to play for two more years before retiring. Since being drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Johnson has had several suspensions for performance-enhancing substances and has also been selected to the Pro Bowl on four occasions. He earned his first and only first-team All-Pro team selection in 2017, he was named second-team All-Pro in 2021.

It was also recently reported by Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo that Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox suffered a significant toe injury and he will be out indefinitely.

Philadelphia is not completely lost at cornerback as C.J. Gardner-Johnson is eligible to come off of injured reserve and is a possibility to play in the slot. Gardner-Johnson was added to the injured reserve list at the beginning of December after suffering a lacerated kidney in Week 12, he was expected to miss a minimum of four games.

Gardner-Johnson had six interceptions on the season before his injury.

The Philadelphia Eagles, who are a Super Bowl favorite, need their best players back if they want to dominate in the playoffs the same way they have in the regular season.