Monday morning hit the NFL hard with the news out of Philadelphia: Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season as he works to recover from blood clots in his lungs. This isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a seismic shift for the Eagles’ season, and frankly, it changes everything for how we look at their offense moving forward.
Quarterback Carousel Continues
With Hurts sidelined, the Eagles had to turn to Tanner McKee in their Week 6 loss to Carolina. McKee managed to throw for 215 yards and one touchdown, good for 12.6 fantasy points, which is… fine. He kept DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert from completely sinking, but let’s be real, the upside is clearly lacking with him under center. They’ve got a pretty soft schedule coming up, but it’s gonna be a tough ask to trust this unit.
Across the league, Lamar Jackson has missed the past two games for Baltimore with an ankle injury. Tyler Huntley has been filling in, and the offense has been a total mixed bag. They looked good in Week 5 against the Falcons, but then had a rough one against the Browns this past week. The word is Jackson should have a shot at returning this week against the Bengals, and man, the Ravens desperately need that boost, especially for Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews.
Down in Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield might be back in the fold soon. Reports over the weekend suggest he could be returning in Week 7 against the Panthers. Mayfield actually pushed to play last week in their loss to Pittsburgh, but Jalon Daniels got the start instead, finishing with 164 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and 39 rushing yards. Just like Philly, the Bucs’ offensive upside is capped until Mayfield gets back on the field. They didn’t look great early in the season, so getting their starter back is crucial if they want to reassess things.
Backfield Blues and Potential Returns
The Eagles’ problems don’t stop at quarterback. Their lead back, Saquon Barkley, has been out the past two games nursing a hamstring injury. They need his services desperately, especially with Hurts out for the season. With Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley all sidelined, Dameon Pierce took all the backfield work in Week 6 against the Panthers. Pierce only managed 35 yards on 12 carries, but he did punch in a touchdown, hitting 13 fantasy points. If Barkley remains out, Pierce won’t be a bad flex play against Dallas in Week 7, but if Barkley is back, expect a heavy workload with McKee leading the offense.
Other running backs around the league are also dealing with it. Jeremiyah Love was ruled out for Week 6 with an ankle injury. Jacory Croskey-Merritt out of Washington was placed on IR with a groin issue, while Jordan Mason from Minnesota could be coming off IR this week after a thumb injury. Other names to keep an eye on include Quinshon Judkins (ankle), Breece Hall (quad), Kyle Monangai (toe), David Montgomery (groin), and Josh Jacobs (personal).
Week 7 is shaping up to be a wild one with these QB situations dominating the headlines. Can Lamar Jackson really return and ignite the Ravens? Will Baker Mayfield be healthy enough to spark the Bucs? And how will the Eagles cope long-term without their star QB? Every snap matters, especially with so many teams battling for position. Let’s see who steps up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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