As the Eagles began their week of preparation for the Saints, quarterback Jaren Hurts was listed as out on the first injury report of the week.
The Eagles did a walkthrough on Wednesday, but injury reports are an estimate of their availability in normal practice.
His availability against the Saints this week isn’t great.
Eagles head coach Nick Siriani was deliberately elusive Wednesday when asked if Hearts would be available for the next game. I want to be forced to prepare for The Eagles did this last week for a Cowboys game that saw the Hearts finally ruled out two days before kickoff.
Here’s Wednesday’s full injury report for the Eagles.
Didn’t practice: Jalen Hurts (shoulder), Lane Johnson (groin), Avonte Maddox (toe), Miles Sanders (knee)
exclusive: AJ Brown (knee), Jordan Davis (concussion)
The Hearts were unable to practice for the Cowboys’ game last week.
Siriani said Hertz feels better than he did last week, but didn’t reveal many other details.
“Yeah, let’s see,” Siriani said of Hearts’ availability this week. Because of course his body knows how to heal.He’s a freak.We’ll see what happens as the week progresses.”
Hurts, 24, suffered a sprained shoulder (reportedly a SC joint sprain) during the Eagles’ game against the Bears in Week 15 and missed Christmas Eve’s game against the Cowboys. The Eagles lost that game 40–34, but his backup quarterback Gardner his Minshew played well and the Eagles gained his 422 yards on offense.
The biggest offense problem against the Cowboys was turnovers. Minshew threw two of his picks and the Eagles also lost two of his fumbles. But aside from those critical mistakes, the Eagles’ offense has worked well, never making a punt.
If the Eagles can win Sunday afternoon against the Saints, they’ll clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC and give Hearts a few extra weeks to heal their shoulder. Not only does the Eagles get a 1st round bye in his NFC, but it makes Week 18 meaningless for the Eagles’ playoff picture.
A big surprise in the injury report was running back Miles Saunders injured with a knee injury. Sanders has been a big part of the Eagles’ offense this year, throwing over 1,000 yards. If he can’t play this weekend, the Eagles have Boston Scott, Kenny Gainwell and Trey Salmon.
Brown’s injury is also a new addition. The injury report wasn’t released until after the Eagles’ walkthrough, but Brown was in the locker room to speak to reporters earlier Wednesday.
Johnson and Maddox are known to be sidelined for some time after suffering injuries in Saturday’s loss. Johnson has torn a tendon in his abdomen and plans to skip surgery and return to the playoffs, while Maddox has a toe injury and is reportedly out indefinitely.
The Eagles didn’t start CJ Gardner-Johnson’s practice window on Wednesday. The safety/nickel corner has missed at least four games in the IR due to a torn kidney, but doesn’t seem ready to return.
“Just because he’s eligible to come back doesn’t mean he will.” will just be waiting for the results when they take those tests.”
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