Eagles edge rusher Jalyx Hunt eyes return, says injury could have been a lot worse
The Eagles also made a series of roster moves, including the addition of a former top-10 pick along the offensive line.
Jalyx Hunt is inching closer to a return.
The standout Eagles edge rusher practiced Thursday for the first time since he suffered knee and ankle injuries on the final play of the first half against the Jaguars in London in Week 5.
Hunt seemed relieved when speaking from his locker room stall after Thursday’s practice. He revealed how terrifying the initial injury diagnosis was.
“Shoot, when I got the MRI back and they said, ‘Well, given the fact that it looked like you tore your knee up …’ So shout out God,” Hunt said. “Shout out the fact that I do yoga and Pilates in the offseason.”
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Hunt, 25, wouldn’t say if he expected to play against the Cowboys on Monday night, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Tuesday it’s a possibility.
“We’ll see how he does in practice,” Fangio said.
Hunt hopes to rejoin a battered Eagles edge rusher group. A.J. Epenesa is nursing a back injury, Jonathan Greenard is on a pitch count and Nolan Smith Jr. suffered a concussion last week. The Eagles are currently featuring backups including seventh-round rookie Keyshawn James-Newby and Arnold Ebiketie as part of their rotation.
Does this add any extra motivation for Hunt to play Monday?
“I definitely want to,” he said. “Like I said, it sucked not being able to contribute. But at the same time, I would hate to come back and not be ready and then be a detriment to the team when we have more than capable people in the room.
“It is an added motivation, but I wouldn’t make that the main focus. Just because I wouldn’t want to put my team behind simply from a selfish act with wanting to play football again. There’s people who are healthy and willing and more able than I am.”
Hunt has 15 tackles and four quarterback hits in five games this season. He finished with 52 tackles, 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss last season and was arguably the Eagles’ best player in training camp.
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According to Fangio, Hunt likes to “push the limits” on getting back as early as possible.
“Yeah, my mom won’t like that too much, but yeah,” Hunt said. “It’s part of the game, especially when you get to this level. There’s bumps and bruises that everybody plays through. So knowing if it’s [the kind of] hurt that’s gonna sit you down, or hurt that you can work through, it’s something I’m real good at … ”
“I do think I push my body, especially with something like this, so I can know where I’m at. And every day I was in here, I was just trying to take it as far as I can before they stop me.”
More roster moves for Birds
The roster shuffling continued for the Eagles on Thursday, as the team announced several additions and one subtraction.
The team re-signed running back Jaydon Blue to the practice squad, while also adding former Giants guard Evan Neal and linebacker Anfernee Orji to that group.
Blue, who played in five games with the Cowboys last season, was active against the Panthers last week but did not play. He was waived Tuesday along with fellow running back Carson Steele (waived/injured), while the team signed Elijah Mitchell to the practice squad.
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Neal, the No. 7 overall pick by the Giants in the 2022 draft, spent time on the Raiders practice squad this season but was released Oct. 19. The University of Alabama product started 27 games with the Giants from 2022-24 but his tenure in New York was beset by injury issues.
Orji makes his second appearance on the Eagles practice squad after initially being released on Oct. 6. The Vanderbilt product played 16 games with the Saints during the 2024 season as a backup linebacker and special-teamer.
The Eagles also waived tight end E.J. Jenkins., who had appeared in each of the team’s first six games, with two starts. Jenkins being excised from the roster is perhaps a signal that second-round rookie tight end Eli Stowers is nearing a return. Stowers started the season on injured reserve with hamstring and quad injuries, but the team opened his 21-day window to return on Oct. 14.
Even with all the injuries and ineffectiveness through six games, Sean Mannion is still a believer in the Eagles’ offense, saying the problems are “totally fixable.” The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Marcus Hayes have some thoughts on the state of Mannion’s group, as well as a defensive unit that’s also been underwhelming this season. Listen here.
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