The Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to start backup quarterback Kenny Pickett as Jalen Hurts has been ruled out for their upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys due to a concussion. Hurts suffered the injury in the first quarter of last week's narrow loss to Washington, and he did not participate in practice throughout the week, remaining in concussion protocol.
This situation underscores the Eagles' decision to trade for Pickett, the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, to bolster their quarterback depth. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni expressed confidence in Pickett, noting the team's admiration for his college performance and NFL experience. Pickett's previous game performance was a mixed bag, completing 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, but he managed to keep the Eagles competitive.
Having had a full week of practice with the first-team offense, the Eagles are hopeful that Pickett will perform better than in his earlier relief appearance. The team is also dealing with other injury concerns, including wide receiver Britain Covey and running back Will Shipley, both ruled out for the game. Linebacker Nakobe Dean is doubtful, while key players like A.J. Brown and Josh Sweat have returned to full practice. A win against the Cowboys would secure the NFC East title for the Eagles, setting them up for a strong playoff position.
