You could almost hear the collective gasp of a city yesterday when news broke that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts would miss Sunday’s game against Carolina due to a superficial blood clot.
After a string of injuries to key players, in addition to a pair of abrupt departures, the Hurts news … well, hurt. Mainly because even with all of the naysayers, fans still attest that there is a certain level of calm when the former Super Bowl MVP is under center.
The Eagles went from being favorites to 3.5-point underdogs against a .500 Panthers team. Instead of Hurts, backup Tanner McKee will now work with the ones ahead of Sunday, with the weight of the city hoping he can be Nick Foles 2.0 until Hurts is back on the saddle.
Shortly after the news broke, our team had the following:
Health reporter Kayla Yup explains what a “superficial blood clot” is, and its severity,
Eagles writer Jeff Neiburg chronicled all of the adversity the team has had to endure this early in the season, with Hurts’ injury now tacked on top, and
Columnist Mike Sielski took a look at some of the major questions the Birds now need to answer.
And want to get caught up to speed on McKee, the Birds’ No. 2? We got you.
Looking like a nice Friday today, with unseasonably warm temperatures expected to creep into the high 70s.
— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
Much of the talk this offseason was that the Phillies would look to move shortstop Trea Turner. Well, that’s not going to happen as the team has committed to bringing him back, but …
“We were very clear: He knows he has to be better at shortstop,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday in an hourlong, end-of-season news conference. “I told him it’s really mandatory that he’s like that. If he plays shortstop like he did in ’25, he can play shortstop. But if he plays like he did in ’26, he can’t. He totally understands that.”
So what does that mean, and what’s the backup plan? Inquirer writer Scott Lauber takes a look at both in his latest.
What we’re …
📖 Reading: Why Penn Wood High School decided to abruptly shut down its entire athletics program yesterday.
👀 Watching: What Joel Embiid’s “productive offseason” means this upcoming season for the Sixers.
🏀 Sharing: Drexel’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have high hopes for their seasons, even if some may not.
⚽ Thinking: With the run of form they’re on, the Union may never lose another game again.
🚁 Wondering: Did Michael Rubin know that LeBron James was signing to Philly ahead of time? It certainly would explain James’ use of Rubin’s Fanatics helicopter.
That’s a question — and would appear to be the mindset — of Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who is thinking big now that he’s surrounded by a star-studded cast of teammates. He’s taken on more and more each season, and he knows that in this one, a standout year where he remains healthy, coupled with a deep run to the NBA playoffs, makes that question a fair one.
First, he’s got to lead the Sixers past the Celtics in the team’s final preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight (7 p.m., NBCSP).
Marsha’s, the women’s-centric sports bar on South Street, announced its impending closure this Sunday after only one year in business. The women’s-run pub, led by owner Chivonn Anderson, endured a slew of controversial incidents.
Now, the bar says that “for all of our beloved regulars and supporters,” the bar will be open today, tomorrow, and Sunday, “for one last hurrah before we shut down.”
Becca O’Reilly has more on the closure and now, what comes next.
On this date
Oct. 16, 1968: In a moment that transcended sport, two members of Team USA’s Track and Field team, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, give a Black Power salute on the podium after placing in the Summer Games in Mexico City. Smith, who won gold, set a world record at 19.83 seconds.
Our best sports 📸 of the week
Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors pick the best sports images from the last seven days. Here’s this week’s Big Picture, starting with one of the few games this week that didn’t end in a loss for the home team. Sure, it was technically a draw and not a direct Philly team, but after the week that was, we’re counting it. Check it out and the rest of this week’s best images, right here.
What you’re saying about the Phillies
Here were your responses to Don Mattingly being named the Phillies manager …
We always kind of knew Don [Mattingly] did enough to get the job, but now that he has it, he can’t get comfortable. It still needs to be a year-over-year uncomfortability for him, because that’s how you get the best out of any manager. At the end of the day, it’s his ballclub to run without having to look over his shoulder, but he still needs to act as if, so he can stay on his toes and have these players follow suit. — Phil B.
The Phillies have decided to keep their temporary manager Don Mattingly, and that is good, as there are few in the game with more knowledge than he, but what about the general manager? I, for one, think he has done a very subpar job. Unlike the teams that made the playoffs, the Phillies have no prospects ready to step into a starting role. With the 26th-ranked farm system and an aging group of starting players, it is time for a serious makeover, and I don’t think this GM can do that. — Everett S.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Kayla Yup, Mike Sielski, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Scott Lauber, Mike Livingston, Jonathan Tannenwald, Becca O’Reilly, Dylan Johnson, Conor Smith, Gina Mizell, Chris Hine, and The Inquirer’s photography staff.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Enjoy your weekend, Philly. I’ll catch you next week. — Kerith
