There was conflicting information when Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was asked Friday about quarterback Jalen Hurts sitting out practice earlier in the week.
Hurts was listed as taking a rest day on Wednesday’s injury report. Then Sirianni said the following:
“Yeah, you know he was dealing with a — it was on the injury report,” Sirianni said Friday. “Dealing with the ankle and just making sure we’re precautious.”
When the discrepancy was pointed out, Bob Lange, the Eagles’ senior vice president of communications, stepped in and said Hurts was resting.
“That was rest, yeah, sorry,” Sirianni said. “I thought you were talking about somebody else.”
Asked again for confirmation if Hurts has an ankle issue, Sirianni said, “No. Rest.”
Hurts was a full participant at practice Thursday, and the injury report is due on Friday afternoon.
The quarterback had his weekly news conference on Wednesday and was asked then about missing practice.
“Just didn’t go today,” Hurts said. “Rest. I just do what I’m told.”
ESPN reported on Friday that Hurts has been dealing with a mild ankle issue for a couple of weeks, according to a league source, while another described it as “lower leg soreness.”
The Eagles (6-2) visit the Dallas Cowboys (3-5) on Sunday and the Washington Commanders on Thursday, so load management was within the realm of possibilities.
The league takes injury reports very seriously, requiring “that teams provide credible, accurate, and specific information about injured players to the league office, their opponents, local and national media, and the league’s broadcast partners each week during the regular season and postseason,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The league has fined teams for violating injury report policy.
Hurts, 26, has started all eight games this season and is 150-for-215 passing (69.8 percent) for 1,774 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions. He also has rushed 86 times for 322 yards and eight scores.
Philadelphia selected Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. A two-time Pro Bowl pick, Hurts has passed for 13,538 yards, 77 TDs and 38 interceptions in 70 games (59 starts).
–Field Level Media
