Jalen Hurts is officially on injured reserve, meaning the Eagles’ franchise quarterback is out for the foreseeable future due to a superficial blood clot. This sudden move drops a huge bomb on Philly’s season, especially after ESPN was reporting *just hours before* that he *wouldn’t* be placed on IR. Talk about a whiplash decision. Now, it’s Tanner McKee’s show, and he’s getting thrown into the starting role in his first extended NFL action.
The Hurts Rollercoaster: IR and Rookie QB Time
What a wild 24 hours for Eagles fans. One minute, your star QB isn’t going on IR, the next, he’s sidelined for at least four games, maybe longer. The team, after apparently talking to a bunch of doctors, made the call to place Hurts on IR because of that superficial blood clot. This means he’s officially out for their next four matchups: Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Week 7 versus the Dallas Cowboys, Week 8 on the road against the Washington Commanders, and Week 9 back home taking on the New York Giants. Then they’ve got their bye in Week 10. The absolute earliest Hurts could step back on the field is Week 11, when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers. The uncertainty around his return date is a real gut punch for the team and the fanbase. So, it’s McKee under center, with Cole Payton likely backing him up for Week 6 since Joe Milton III only just joined the squad on Friday. We’ll have to see if Milton can climb the depth chart or if he’s just an emergency option. This is a huge test for McKee right out of the gate.
Running Backs and Edge Rushers: The Injury Bug Bites Hard
The Eagles’ injury woes don’t stop at quarterback, not by a long shot. Their running back room is absolutely decimated right now. Saquon Barkley is still dealing with a hamstring injury, and both Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are already on injured reserve. That’s their top three backs gone! To try and patch things up, they called up Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele from the practice squad last week, and now they’ve officially signed Jaydon Blue from the practice squad to the active roster. That gives them three options in the backfield for Sunday’s game. Blue, a former Cowboys draft pick, was signed by Philly before the 2026 season, so at least he’s familiar with the system.
And it’s not just the offense taking hits. Their edge rushers are also banged up big time. Jalyx Hunt is out for Sunday’s game, and A.J. Epenesa is doubtful to even play. Jonathan Greenard is going to play, but he’s coming off an ankle injury, which is never ideal. To add some much-needed depth, the team temporarily elevated Keyshawn James-Newby from the practice squad. This will be his NFL debut, which is a massive moment for the rookie seventh-round pick. He missed most of the offseason practices due to injury but apparently flashed a bit late in training camp and preseason, so hopefully, he can step up big time.
The Eagles have their Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and with so many key players out or questionable, it’s going to be a true test of their depth and resilience. It’s on McKee, Blue, and James-Newby to step up and show what they’ve got in the face of some serious adversity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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