When Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said the quarterback Jalen hurts should be in the MVP discussion, there was some laughter from national pundits over his comments. However, after Hurts left on Sunday loss against Washington commanders due to head trauma, his value to the offense is beyond doubt. The Eagles hope to find him next Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys for another attempt at the NFC East title. But with uncertainty surrounding his availability due to a head injury he suffered, the team may have to make adjustments to ensure their backup quarterbacks and the rest of the offense are ready .

Hurts is in the concussion protocol and must work with trainers and an independent neurologist to be cleared to return, a process that typically concludes later in the week. At Monday afternoon’s press conference, Sirianni said he didn’t have an update on Hurts’ status, but noted there was a chance he could play if he was allowed, although he doesn’t practice until Friday if he gets the green light to play.

“What I’ve seen is Jalen knows how to prepare and how to prepare,” Sirianni said. “He’s a real pro. I just can’t say enough good things about Jalen the player, Jalen the leader, Jalen the person. Every week is a little different and I know Jalen does everything he can to prepare for each week no matter the circumstances.

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If Hurts is not allowed to play, the responsibility of running the offense will fall to either Kenny Pickett or Tanner McKee. Pickett entered the game after Hurts was knocked out and completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception. However, Pickett is also dealing with an injury, suffering a rib problem while trying to throw the ball to avoid a sack. He said he would be evaluated further Monday, but Sirianni reported no change in Pickett’s availability.

If Pickett is ruled out, the Eagles would turn to McKee, a 2022 sixth-round pick who has served as an emergency quarterback this season. McKee impressed during training camp and the preseason, completing 34 of 56 passes for 294 yards and one interception with the third-team offense. However, he has yet to play a single regular season game.

As the Eagles prepare for the Cowboys, Sirianni faces critical decisions regarding the number of snaps to ensure Pickett and McKee get adequate practice reps. He also needs to balance those plans with updates on Hurts’ status, which would significantly change the offensive game plan to include more zone plays, open up opportunities for running back Saquon Barkley and incorporate the “Brotherly Shove » in short distance situations. . The Commanders took advantage of Hurts’ absence and elements of the offense that impacted Pickett on the field, forcing the Eagles to score field goals instead of touchdowns.

Having uncertainty at quarterback after an injury to Hurts is not unfamiliar territory for the Eagles. During the 2022 season, Hurts missed two games in the latter part of the regular season after injuring his shoulder against the Chicago Bears, leading to replacement Gardner Minshew as the starter against the Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints. The Eagles lost both games and were able to move the ball against the Cowboys, with Minshew throwing for 355 yards and the offense totaling 442 yards on offense. Sirianni plans to build on this experience to ensure current backups are prepared.

“We tried to do the same thing with Kenny and Tanner, giving them meaningful reps during developmental times,” Sirianni said. “They get an opportunity to represent our games, not just the scout team games. Kenny did everything he could to help this team win yesterday. He played hard, made big plays and did a lot of good things.