The Philadelphia Eagles successfully defeated the Los Angeles Rams, securing a spot in the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders. However, a significant concern looms over the team regarding the health of their star quarterback, Jalen Hurts. In the second quarter of Sunday’s game, Hurts appeared to suffer an injury to his left knee after being sacked and struggled with mobility for the rest of the match. This resulted in the Eagles’ offense faltering, with the exception of a notable 78-yard touchdown run from Saquon Barkley; the team mostly relied on field goals during the second half.
Now, the pressing question is whether Hurts will be at or near 100 percent as they face the Commanders. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has expressed skepticism about his condition. On Monday, Rapoport reported that Hurts’ performance will hinge on how well he responds to treatment over the week, impacting his mobility and ability to contribute significantly in Sunday’s game.
“I really do think that’s significant,” Rapoport commented on Hurts’ knee injury. “He is going to play on Sunday. I don’t have any doubt about that. Doesn’t seem like there is really much structurally there. He seems to be in pain. It seems like his knee came out okay. But my question is, is he going to be as mobile as he needs to be? The Jalen Hurts that stands in the pocket and reads is very good, but he’s not the potential MVP candidate when he relies on his legs to create and scramble. How mobile he can be on Sunday will be crucial in determining whether the Eagles will advance.”
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: How #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts’ knee responds to a week of treatment will determine how mobile he is. And that could be key. pic.twitter.com/jtVWA1l0IP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2025
Despite concerns surrounding Hurts’ injury, many anticipate that the Eagles will prevail against their NFC East rivals. Currently, the Eagles are favored by 5.5 points across most sportsbooks over the Commanders; however, this could change if Hurts’ knee situation appears more problematic as the teams prepare to take the field on Sunday.