The Washington Commanders placed linebacker Jon Bostic on injured reserve Friday with the pectoral injury he sustained in last week’s game.

The team signed linebacker De’Jon Harris from the practice squad to fill the spot on the active roster.

The Commanders (7-7-1) also ruled out running back Antonio Gibson (foot, knee) for Sunday’s game against the visiting Cleveland Browns (6-9).

Bostic, 31, was injured in the Week 16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He has 25 tackles in 15 games (five starts) for the Commanders this season. It’s unclear if Bostic, in his fourth season in Washington, would be able to return for the playoffs, should the team qualify.

He has 9.5 sacks and three interceptions in 121 career games (86 starts) with five different teams. Bostic was selected in the second round of the 2013 draft by the Chicago Bears.

Gibson exited the 49ers game with knee and foot sprains and wasn’t able to practice at all this week. He has 546 yards rushing (three TDs) and 46 catches for 353 yards (two TDs) in 15 games (six starts) this season.

Commanders safety Kam Curl is listed as questionable (ankle). Three fellow defensive backs — CB Benjamin St-Juste (ankle), S Percy Butler (hip) and CB Christian Holmes (ankle) — are also questionable.

Harris has appeared in four games this season, playing exclusively on special teams.

Also Friday, the Commanders signed defensive back Troy Apke to the practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert hasn’t taken a snap under center this season, but he sure was involved in a key play on Thursday.

Gabbert and his brothers, Tyler and Brett, helped rescue a man, his parents and a pilot after the helicopter in which they were traveling made an emergency landing off the coast of Davis Islands near Tampa at 5 p.m. ET.

Hunter Hupp, a 28-year-old who was visiting from Philadelphia, said he heard a popping sound in the aircraft’s rotor, per the Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Police Department lieutenant Daniel College said the helicopter experienced an engine failure, and Hupp said the aircraft would not have been able to land at nearby Peter O. Knight Airport.

The helicopter landed approximately 200 yards off the shore of Davis Islands. The three other occupants were able to get to the surface without issue, while Hupp said he was caught in seatbelts and cords before freeing himself after approximately 45 seconds to a minute of being under water.

Gabbert, who has a home on Davis Islands, and his brothers approached on jet skis and assisted in the rescue effort. The father was placed on one personal watercraft, while Hupp and his mother were placed on another.

“I vaguely remember hearing a faint noise, so we turned around, left the (Davis Islands Yacht Club) and I just remember looking to the west and seeing … It almost looked like a crew boat in the water that had broken up into about four pieces,” Gabbert said. “I vaguely remember seeing like two yellow life jackets — so I was like all right, we have to go check this out.

“They looked like they were undressed. We raced over there. The youngest kid had just came up and said he had been pinned in there. I asked if anyone else was trapped, and then I called 911 and tried to remain as calm as possible.

“They were healthy, scared, nervous, but it was just a pretty crappy situation that turned good in the end.”

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles was quick to applaud Gabbert on Friday.

“I think it’s outstanding,” Bowles said. “Any time you can find a guy who drops everything that can go help somebody else that he doesn’t even know without even thinking about it. And take their life into their own hands and help someone save their life. That says a lot about the guy, and Blaine did that.”

Hupp couldn’t have been more thankful for the efforts of Gabbert and his brothers.

“They slowly brought us back to the shore, a sandy beach near the yacht club, and hung out for a while, were really nice,” Hupp said, per FOX Sports. “We exchanged pleasantries upon reaching flat ground. They were really an asset to helping us out, because we were the only ones out there for a while. It was a handshake and a huge and ‘Thank you so much.’ They went out for a nice afternoon ride and just happened to come upon a stranded helicopter family.”

The Tampa Police Department said in a news release it “is currently coordinating with local and federal agencies regarding the investigation and eventual recovery of the helicopter.”

Gabbert, 33, has played with the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Buccaneers during his NFL career.

–Field Level Media

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw the ball with velocity and accuracy in Thursday’s practice, opening the door for his return from a sprained shoulder on Sunday.

Philadelphia (13-2) hosts the New Orleans Saints (6-9) with a chance to wrap up the NFC East division title and conference home-field advantage, which brings the only first-round bye in the NFC.

Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew started in Hurts’ spot in the Christmas Eve loss to the Dallas Cowboys (12-4), who won Thursday night to remain in the hunt for the division crown.

Minshew took the majority of the first-team reps last week. Hurts practiced in a limited fashion Thursday.

“His health is always taken into consideration first,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Friday. “Is it safe for him to be out there? And then from there you do what’s best for the team. We’re still sorting through that. Obviously Jalen had a good practice (Thursday), went out and did some things really well.”

How Hurts responds physically from ramping up football activity and throwing Thursday, and whether he remains limited Friday, will be key indicators of the direction Sirianni will take. Another factor could be the right tackle position. Starter Lane Johnson (abdomen) is out.

However, Sirianni said last week Hurts is “the toughest guy I’ve been around” and pushed to play against Dallas.

Sirianni took several opportunities to chirp toward the gathered media at Thursday’s practice with playful messages reminding reporters that he wasn’t exaggerating Hurts’ toughness.

“I told ya!” the coach bellowed several times.

Minshew filled in last week and threw for 355 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Hurts is part of the conversation for NFL MVP honors due to his stellar season. He has passed for 3,472 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions, and rushed for 747 yards and 13 scores in 14 games.

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said Thursday he has become a fan of Hurts.

“He’s a great young player,” Brady said. “He’s throwing the ball well, running it well, sneaking it well. They’re scoring touchdowns, they got a great team.”

–Field Level Media