Jalen Hurts is still ‘progressing through the protocol’ as the Eagles prepare for a playoff run

Nick Sirianni is growing a little tired of answering questions about the status of Jalen Hurts. But after the Eagles finished off their meaningless 20-13 victory over the New York Giants Sunday afternoon, it’s where all eyes turned. Naturally.

The Eagles learned their playoff opponent shortly after the clock ran out at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. They will host the Green Bay Packers next Sunday, and the status of Hurts, who has been out since suffering a concussion five minutes into the Eagles’ 36-33 road loss to the Washington Commanders on Dec. 22, is undoubtedly the biggest storyline hanging over the Eagles as they prepare for a playoff run. His availability impacts that ability greatly, no matter how well Tanner McKee played Sunday.

Sirianni said Sunday that Hurts’ status is unchanged from when he shut down questions on the topic Friday afternoon at the NovaCare Complex. The coach confirmed a report from the CBS broadcast that said Hurts was present at the team’s walk-through Saturday. The quarterback was not seen on the practice field even as an observer during the portion of practice open to reporters on any of the three practices this week.

Did his presence Saturday represent a progression through the protocol?

“Guys, I mean, he’s progressing through the protocol,” an agitated Sirianni said. “We’ve talked a lot about that. I respect your guys’ questions, I want to answer them all, but, yeah, he’s progressing through the protocol.”

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It’s unclear which part of the NFL’s return-to-participation protocol — a five-step process players must progress through before being cleared to return to the field — Hurts is currently in. He will eventually have to be cleared to return after examination by an independent neurological consultant.

The Eagles won’t practice until Wednesday. They won’t be required to put out an injury status report until their next practice. Wednesday will mark 17 days since Hurts suffered the concussion.

The quarterback room is a bit banged up as the playoffs begin. Backup Kenny Pickett did not play Sunday due to a ribs injury and was listed as a nonparticipant in every practice this week.

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McKee, meanwhile, played well in his first NFL start, especially early before fading a little bit in the second half. All told, he completed 27 of his 41 attempts for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Given the uncertainty of the starting quarterback, McKee was asked after the game about the prospects of being on the field again next weekend in a meaningful game.

“I’m going to do my preparation to play because I’ve been doing that all season,” McKee said. “I’m going to be doing the same thing. I’ll be ready whether I’m the 1, the 2, the 3, the 6, whatever that is.”

The debate about whether McKee should be the No. 2 or the No. 3 when everyone is healthy may be heating up, but the status of the real No. 1 is the only meaningful question mark as the Eagles begin preparing for their first playoff opponent.