Jalen Hurts will not be on the field Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Carolina Panthers, after the team announced Thursday that its star quarterback is dealing with a superficial blood clot.
The Eagles said Hurts is out for the Week 6 matchup while they sort out the proper treatment plan, and for now they have only ruled him out for this game. No timeline for his return was given in the team’s statement.
That leaves Tanner McKee positioned to start in the 1 p.m. ET contest, with rookie Cole Payton listed behind him on the depth chart. Hurts had been listed as a full participant with a calf injury on Wednesday’s practice report, making the diagnosis something of a surprise.
The setback comes during a rough stretch for Philadelphia. The Eagles have dropped three straight after opening 2-0, and injuries have piled up along the way, leaving the team at 2-3.
The team’s statement included this line:
Jalen will be out for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers as we determine the appropriate course of treatment. His health and safety are our highest priority.
Hurts, the former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback, has already been to two Super Bowls with the Eagles, winning the championship in the 2024 season. He played at Alabama from 2016-18 and helped the Crimson Tide win the national title in 2017 before transferring to Oklahoma for the 2019 season. Philadelphia drafted him in the second round in 2020, and the 28-year-old has made three Pro Bowl trips with the team.
In Other News...
Georgia's Alabama Win Just Got More Complicated For Kirby Smart
Georgias win over Alabama in Week 6 pushed Kirby Smarts team to 6-0 and kept the Bulldogs at No. 1, but it also added another layer of concern to what had already become a physical stretch. Smart pointed to the injury situation after the game, and one of the bigger hits in the backfield involves junior running back Chauncey Bowens, who is dealing with a lower-body injury.
Bowens is set to miss the Week 7 trip to Auburn, and there is no timetable yet for his return. With Bowens and Nate Frazier both dealing with injuries, Georgia has been forced into a committee approach at running back, a setup that works in the short term but leaves Smart managing one more variable as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have To Reshuffle Key Spots Before Tennessee
Alabamas first SEC availability report for Saturdays trip to Tennessee offered an early look at the kind of lineup juggling Kalen DeBoer may have to manage in a rivalry game that rarely leaves much margin for error. The list included several players in various categories, but the most immediate concerns came with Ryan Coleman-Williams and Terrance Green ruled out, both dealing with injuries that could force the Tide to adjust on the fly before they even get to Knoxville.
Coleman-Williams is working through knee and head injuries, while Green is sidelined with a lower-leg issue, leaving Alabama to sort out key spots if those absences hold through game day. DeBoer said this week that he had updates on player conditions and potential replacements for injured starters, which means the Tide are already weighing how to reshuffle important roles before facing a Tennessee team that will be eager to test any thin spots in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense May Finally Get The Help It Needs Vs Tennessee
Alabamas defense has been carrying a heavy load lately, and the weekly availability report offered at least one encouraging sign before the Tennessee game. Star receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and defensive tackle Terrance Green were listed as out, but sophomore linebacker Justin Hill was tagged as probable, setting up a potential boost for a unit that has needed more speed, flexibility and depth in the middle of the field.
Hills return would matter because Alabama has been looking for ways to lighten the burden on its linebackers while sharpening its pressure up front. A player who can give the defense more versatility can also help the Tide rotate more cleanly and keep fresh legs on the field, which is exactly the kind of support this matchup could demand. [Read more 🡒]
