Three days ahead of the Eagles’ divisional matchup against the Cowboys in Philadelphia — and the final Sunday for millions of fantasy football leagues across the country — Jalen Hurts is still in concussion protocol.
Head coach Nick Sirianni offered no update on his star signal-caller’s status while speaking to the media Thursday, but Philadelphia appears to be hedging its bets by signing QB Ian Book to the practice squad just one day after he visited with the team on Christmas.
The Eagles did not host practice Wednesday but announced that, if they had, Hurts would have carried an “did not practice” designation, while Pickett would have been “limited” due to the rib injury he sustained against Washington in Week 16.
Tanner McKee, 24, currently sits third on the Eagles’ quarterback depth chart, making Book, 26, the No. 4 option.
Pickett, 26, was thrust into action just a few minutes into last Sunday’s game after Hurts took a hit from Commanders’ linebacker Frankie Luvu.
On the play prior, Hurts had conked the side of his helmet against the turf at the end of a run play.
After the second of two trips into the medical tent, Hurts was ruled out. His concussion evaluation followed soon thereafter.
AP
In his first meaningful action in over a year, Pickett, formerly the Steelers’ starter, was serviceable but unspectacular.
He tossed an interception to Luvu and a four-yard touchdown to wide receiver A.J. Brown.
The third-year signal caller finished the contest 14-of-24, as the Eagles failed to clinch the division and one of the conference’s top two seeds.
If Hurts and Pickett are unable to go Sunday, starting duties will likely fall to Mckee, a sixth-round pick by the Eagles in 2023.
He has never taken a snap in an NFL game.
Behind McKee sits Book, a fourth-round pick by the Saints in 2021, who hasn’t seen the gridiron since his rookie year.
In one appearance — a Week 16 matchup versus the Dolphins — the Notre Dame alum tossed 12 completions and two interceptions as the Saints mustered just three points.
When asked if Book’s assignment to the practice squad was a result of uncertainty on Hurts and Pickett’s status, Sirianni dodged the question.
“An opportunity to add Ian here this week, and we took advantage of that opportunity,” the head coach said. “Really enjoyed our time with him when he was here [in training camp and on the practice squad in 2023] and had some high hopes for him. [Book is] familiar with a lot of things here, and we’re excited to have him.”
With a win over the Cowboys on Sunday, Philadelphia would clinch the NFC East.
The league seemingly doesn’t have high expectations for the game though; originally scheduled to kick off at 4:25 p.m., the contest was flexed to 1 p.m. ET.