LANDOVER, MD – Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders after sustaining a concussion in the first quarter, leading to the end of the team’s 10-game winning streak. The game concluded with a last-second 36-33 loss for the Eagles.
Hurts was injured following a 13-yard run when his head collided with the turf after being tackled by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu. He briefly entered the medical tent before being escorted to the locker room for further evaluation and was officially ruled out early in the second quarter. Before his exit, Hurts completed 1 of 4 passes for 11 yards and had 41 rushing yards on three attempts.
Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett took over, managing to throw a touchdown to A.J. Brown, which extended the Eagles’ lead to 14-0. However, Pickett’s performance was inconsistent, including an interception, and the Eagles could not maintain their advantage, scoring only via field goals in the second half.
This loss has significant implications for the Eagles’ playoff positioning, particularly in their pursuit of the NFC’s top seed. With the defeat, the Eagles missed the opportunity to clinch the NFC East title but can still secure it with a win in either of their final two games. The Eagles are now set to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17, with Hurts’ condition being a critical factor in their strategy moving forward.
The Eagles’ loss and Hurts’ injury have sparked discussions about the team’s resilience and the challenges they might face without their star quarterback, especially given his impact on both the passing and running game.