Nick Sirianni’s comments on Friday raised a few eyebrows, especially when he revealed that Jalen Hurts was dealing with an ankle issue, despite Hurts being listed on the injury report under the somewhat vague “rest” designation. This slip-up during his press conference left many fans and reporters scratching their heads, as it wasn’t immediately clear whether the star quarterback was actually dealing with an injury or simply taking a much-needed break.
Here’s how the exchange went down:
Sirianni: “He was dealing with — it was on the injury report — dealing with the ankle. Just making sure we’re precautious with everything.”
Eagles PR: “It was a rest.”
Sirianni: “That was a rest, yeah. Sorry. I thought you were talking about something else.”
Reporter: “Is Jalen dealing with an ankle problem?”
Sirianni: “No. Rest.”
At this point, the confusion was palpable, and Sirianni seemed to backtrack quickly, reaffirming that it was just a rest day for Hurts and that there was no major injury to worry about. While the whole situation might seem like a minor hiccup, it’s important to note how rare it is for Hurts to take a load management day, especially when you consider his consistent high-level performance over the past seasons. In fact, Hurts hasn’t been listed for load management in this way before, so this was a bit of an outlier.
Despite the initial confusion, Hurts did participate in Thursday’s practice as a full participant, so it seemed like his “rest” day was simply a precautionary move ahead of the Eagles’ upcoming games. That didn’t stop the rumor mill from turning, as people speculated whether the quarterback was dealing with something more serious than just a day off. Hurts, as usual, kept his cool and responded to questions about his rest day in the same focused, business-like manner fans have come to expect. When asked about his limited participation on Wednesday, he simply said, “I just do what I’m told,” a line that’s become part of his steady leadership persona.
The Eagles are gearing up for a crucial matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, followed by a short turnaround before hosting Washington on Thursday night. These back-to-back games are critical for the Eagles as they look to secure a strong position heading into the latter part of the season. The NFC East could be on the line with these games, and the Eagles will need every player at their best to stay atop the division.
While the “rest” day for Hurts didn’t raise too many concerns initially, the narrative started to shift when Sirianni’s comments about Hurts’ ankle surfaced. It didn’t help that the Eagles also have two players listed on the injury report with ankle issues this week, Mekhi Becton and Ainias Smith. There’s no shortage of speculation when it comes to injury reports, especially given how tight-lipped teams tend to be about their players’ conditions. The NFL requires teams to provide specific, accurate injury information for competitive fairness, and violations of this policy can lead to hefty fines, as we’ve seen in past seasons.
In fact, last year the Atlanta Falcons were slapped with a $75,000 fine for failing to disclose running back Bijan Robinson’s illness on the injury report, despite him barely playing in a game due to health issues. The team’s head coach at the time, Arthur Smith, also received a $25,000 fine for his part in the misstep. Similarly, in 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced penalties after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was listed on the injury report as a rest day participant when, in reality, he was nursing an elbow injury.
With all this in mind, the Eagles’ handling of Hurts’ status might be seen as a bit of a misstep, even if it’s ultimately inconsequential. While the quarterback’s injury status isn’t something that has typically made waves in recent seasons, there’s always extra attention on star players like Hurts, especially when they’re as instrumental to the team’s success as he is. It’s clear that Hurts is the leader of this Eagles squad, and keeping him healthy is critical for their Super Bowl aspirations.
During practice on Friday, Hurts was seen stretching on a side field with trainers, which wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary. He didn’t appear to be limping or suffering from any visible injury, and he rejoined his teammates to participate in throwing drills shortly after. Still, for a player like Hurts, whose performance is often scrutinized to an extreme degree, even a slight injury can become a focal point for the media. The Eagles, like many NFL teams, tend to keep their injury statuses under wraps, largely because of the competitive advantage it can offer. Teams don’t want to tip their hand too early, particularly when it comes to a player of Hurts' caliber, who can change the course of a game with his arm or legs.
Interestingly, the Eagles weren’t the only team in the spotlight this week when it comes to injury reporting. The 49ers faced scrutiny earlier in the season over their handling of Christian McCaffrey’s injury status before a Week 1 matchup. While the league ultimately determined that the 49ers had not violated any rules, the incident served as a reminder of the importance of following injury reporting protocols. These rules are in place to ensure transparency and fairness across the league, and teams can face significant penalties for failing to comply.
As for the Eagles’ injury report this week, there’s been little to worry about other than Hurts’ “rest” day and the status of linebacker Ben VanSumeren, who’s listed as questionable with a concussion. The team’s full participation at practice on Friday suggests that, aside from VanSumeren, everyone is good to go for Sunday’s game in Dallas. The Eagles will likely need all hands on deck for this critical NFC East battle.
With the Cowboys coming off a dominant win last week, the Eagles will need to be at their best to secure a win and keep pace with Dallas in the division. For Hurts, his ability to bounce back after any potential injury concerns will be key in this stretch of games. The team is counting on him to lead them through this pivotal stretch, with the hope that his “rest” day will be just that—a chance to recharge for the grind ahead.
As the Eagles prepare for what promises to be a thrilling game against the Cowboys, fans can rest easy knowing that Hurts’ status doesn’t appear to be a long-term concern. But in the NFL, things can change quickly, and the team will continue to monitor the situation closely as they aim for another NFC East title and, ultimately, a Super Bowl berth. The spotlight will surely remain on Hurts as he leads his team into a crucial stretch of the season.
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