The Philadelphia Eagles gave their players an extra day off from practice this week, allowing them to rest, heal up and spend some time with their families on Christmas Day.
The Eagles were still required, however, to submit an estimated practice report. Wednesday’s report was the first update on the team’s handful of injured players, most notably quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett.
Philly has four players worth monitoring heading into Thursday’s first official practice of the week. Here’s a breakdown of who they are and what they’re dealing with entering Sunday’s Week 17 game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Linc (now scheduled for 1 p.m., EST on FOX):
QB Jalen Hurts
Head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Wednesday that Hurts remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, and he won’t be offering clarity on the QB’s status for Sunday until he’s cleared. Hurts was estimated as “DNP” (did not practice) on Wednesday’s report. He has several steps he must pass to be cleared in time for Sunday’s game. While it’s not required, Hurts will likely need to log at least one limited practice session with his teammates by Friday to have a legitimate chance at suiting up.
MORE: How long will Eagles’ Jalen Hurts be out? Explaining NFL’s 5-step concussion protocol
LB Nakobe Dean
Dean joined Hurts as an estimated DNP with an abdomen injury. If Wednesday was used as a practice day, the Eagles would have rested seven different players, so it remains to be seen how serious this new ailment is for Dean, who ranks fourth on the team in total defensive snaps and has started every game at linebacker alongside Zack Baun. At this point, there’s no reason to believe that Dean won’t be ready by the end of the week, but Thursday’s first real practice session will shed light on his situation.
QB Kenny Pickett
Pickett is dealing with a rib injury, and the Eagles could need him to tough it out this week with Hurts on the mend. The former Pitt star hasn’t exactly crushed it as the highest QB taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. One thing he has shown, though, is toughness. He finished last week’s game and gave the Eagles a chance to win against the Commanders. He was estimated as a limited participant on Wednesday, but all signs point to Pickett being available on Sunday, if the Eagles need him.
RB Will Shipley
The rookie has joined Hurts in the NFL’s concussion protocol this week. He was estimated as a DNP on Wednesday. Shipley hasn’t gotten much run on offense, with Saquon Barkley, Hurts and Kenneth Gainwell dominating touches out of the backfield. He’s been up every week as a core special teams player, though, logging 242 total snaps on teams in 2024. The Eagles have third-year pro Tyrion Davis-Price available on the practice squad if they end up needing another back on Sunday.
MORE: NFL picks, predictions for Week 17: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
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