While Jalen Hurts remains in NFL’s concussion protocol, Eagles are unclear on a starting QB vs. Cowboys

Jalen Hurts remains in the concussion protocol after he suffered a concussion just over five minutes into the Eagles’ 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

His status for the team’s Week 17 home game Sunday vs. Dallas is not yet clear.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni did not have an update on Hurts during his Monday afternoon news conference other than saying his quarterback is in the league’s protocol.

“When that happens, we just lean on the doctors to let us know on a daily basis where he is,” Sirianni said.

What happens next is determined by the NFL’s return-to-participation protocol, a five-step process players must progress through before being cleared to return to the field. Phase 1 will have Hurts avoiding physical and cognitive activities that increase or aggravate concussion symptoms. Next is aerobic exercise under supervision of the team’s medical staff, then on to football-specific exercises. Phase 4 is noncontact football activities before progressing to Phase 5, which is clearance for a full return after examination by an independent neurological consultant.

» READ MORE: DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, and how the NFL’s concussion protocol has evolved

All of that is to say that Hurts, like most players coming off a head injury, is unlikely to be practicing in full with his teammates before the very end of the practice week at the earliest.

“What I’ve seen is Jalen knows how to prepare, knows how to get himself ready, is a true pro,” Sirianni said when asked if Hurts could play in Sunday’s game against Dallas without practicing.

Hurts was injured on a designed run on the Eagles’ second offensive drive. The quarterback did not slide and instead plowed forward when meeting with a pair of Washington defenders, including linebacker Frankie Luvu. Hurts’ head appeared to hit the ground with some force.

Protecting himself when he’s running with the football is an area the Eagles have stressed to Hurts over the last few seasons and Sirianni said he has mostly done a good job in doing so.

“Any time something goes down and you lose one of your best players, you wish they’d do something else or not take that hit in that scenario,” Sirianni said. “We always run runs that protect him and we always want him to protect himself.”

Players commonly return the following week after suffering a concussion, but not every concussion is the same. DeVonta Smith and Lane Johnson were concussed during a Week 3 win in New Orleans and missed the next game at Tampa Bay, which preceded a Week 5 bye.

If Hurts can’t go, the Eagles would likely stick with Kenny Pickett as the starter. Pickett suffered an injury to his ribs Sunday but said he was not worried about his status moving forward. Pickett finished 14-for-24 for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The offense did not run smoothly with him in the game. The Commanders successfully stacked the box and took Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ running game off the table, forcing Pickett to beat them with his arm. He nearly did, but too many miscues both on offense and in other areas prevented the Eagles from getting their 11th consecutive victory and kept alive Washington’s slim hopes to overtake the Eagles for the NFC East crown.

» READ MORE: Something or nothing? Analyzing the Eagles’ sloppy loss vs. Commanders, from not-so special teams to a shaky run game

Take Barkley’s long touchdown run out of the equation, and Pickett failed to efficiently move the Eagles down the field. They didn’t score a touchdown after the first quarter. The backup’s best drive was aided by multiple pass interference calls. Still, the Eagles had a chance to win the game.

The Eagles are obviously a much different team with Pickett taking snaps instead of Hurts, although Sirianni wasn’t going to go into great detail to explain the obvious. The coach expressed confidence in Pickett if he has to play again on Sunday.

“There will be an adjustment that we’ll have to go through,” Sirianni said. “Every time there’s a player out, there’s an adjustment to be made.

“Kenny did some really good things yesterday. Obviously we missed Jalen. Jalen is a great football player who has had a lot of success and led us to a lot of victories.”

A week afterSirianni had an animated discussion on the sideline with Jalen Carter after the fiery defensive tackle was penalized for unnecessary roughness, a flag for which he was later fined, Carter committed his fourth unnecessary roughness penalty Sunday on a play that nullified a sack.

It was an undisciplined day for the Eagles, but especially for Carter and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was ejected in the third quarter following his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

“You never want to have penalties like that,” Sirianni said Monday. “I always encourage our guys to be themselves, have fun when you’re celebrating, play how you play, but do it within the confines of the rules.

“I love how much energy and fire these guys play with. But obviously at no point do you want them to get a penalty or is it acceptable for them to get a penalty.”

» READ MORE: Nick Sirianni must control Jalen Carter and C.J. Gardner-Johnson; Eagles can lose the NFC East: NFL Week 16

The Eagles gave up more than 23 points in a game for the first time since September. Washington’s 36 points were the most any Eagles opponent has scored all season. This came against an Eagles defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL in fewest yards allowed.

But it wasn’t all on a defense that was sometimes sloppy and other times not on the same page.

The Eagles gave up nearly 30 yards per return on seven kickoffs. Braden Mann’s opening kickoff dropped short of the landing zone and allowed Washington to start its first drive at the 40-yard line. Pickett’s interception set up the Commanders at the Eagles’ 25-yard line. The offense produced just four field goals after halftime.

“We gave them really good field position multiple times,” Sirianni said. “All of those things play into it.

“Everyone contributes to those 36 points getting put on the board. This is a team sport and it takes everybody.”