Eagles center Cam Jurgens takes the next step in concussion protocol by returning to practice

The Eagles may end up only being down one starting offensive lineman when they travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys this weekend.

Center Cam Jurgens, who left Sunday’s game and missed Wednesday’s practice with a concussion, returned to the practice field on Thursday as a limited participant. He was still sporting a brace on his right knee.

Jurgens returning to the field means he is progressing through the NFL’s return-to-participation protocol, a five-step process players must progress through before being cleared to return to the field for a game.

A right knee injury knocked Jurgens out of the Eagles’ Week 7 game in Minnesota. He returned to Sunday’s 16-9 victory over the Detroit Lions but was injured and left the game in the fourth quarter. Brett Toth, who filled in during Jurgens’ absence, finished the game Sunday.

The Eagles, of course, will be without Lane Johnson (Lisfranc injury) on Sunday, and Fred Johnson will take his spot at right tackle.

They will face a Dallas front that has improved with the addition of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, whom the Cowboys acquired from the New York Jets before the trade deadline. Williams, who plays next to the talented Kenny Clark in the interior, tallied a season-high five pressures in his Cowboys debut Monday night on 28 pass rushes, according to Next Gen Stats. Williams was credited with 1½ sacks. Williams was doubled on half of those 28 pass rushes.

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The Eagles will likely need to focus extra attention on Williams, regardless of whether a banged-up Jurgens returns or Toth gets the nod.

Toth said he sees a lot of Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones and former Eagles tackle Fletcher Cox in Williams.

“He’s a great player and he’s a force,” Toth said. “He’s a game-wrecker if you give him a chance. They’re a unit that’s been looked at a certain way, but it’s the NFL. Every given week you have to go out there and prove yourself.”

Williams has also been stout against the run. He leads all interior defensive linemen in run stops (26), according to Pro Football Focus. In his debut Monday, the Cowboys did not allow a single rushing yard before contact, according to Next Gen, with all 27 Las Vegas Raiders rushing yards gained after contact.

Toth said Dallas could be similar to the Eagles of 2024. They were a team that didn’t have an identity heading into their bye week. Dallas retooled at the deadline, then had its bye week, then emerged from the bye with a dominant win over a lesser opponent.

“You got to try to piece together, are they giving different schemes because of the personnel or was it something that was always packaged together as well?” Toth said. “You have to be able to adjust on the fly.”

» READ MORE: Eagles tackle Fred Johnson says it’s ‘time to show what I can do’ as he fills in for Lane Johnson again

Right guard Tyler Steen said schematically he is seeing a lot of the same stuff on film that he saw before Week 1. That week, the Eagles entered with a relatively healthy offensive line, though left guard Landon Dickerson left the game early with an injury. This time, Steen could be sandwiched between two backups. With the amount of time Jurgens and Lane Johnson have missed, that has been a constant in Steen’s first year as a starter.

“I don’t think it’s impacted me too much,” he said. “Obviously, Cam and Lane are extremely good players. Brett and Fred are also pretty good players as well. It all goes back to making sure everyone is on the same page.”

This week, with an improved Dallas front, that will be key. Jurgens could clear protocol in time to face one of his toughest challenges yet.

Jurgens was the only Eagles player listed as limited on Thursday’s practice report. Lane Johnson (foot) did not participate. He has not yet been placed on injured reserve, a move that is expected.

Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who was listed as limited Wednesday with a shoulder injury, was upgraded to a full participant.