Adam Schefter: Jalen Hurts, Geno Smith 'questionable' for Eagles-Seahawks game
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was downgraded to questionable with an illness for Monday’s game and Geno Smith might not play either.
“Eagles are downgrading QB Jalen Hurts to questionable for Monday night’s game in Seattle after his sickness worsened overnight, per a source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on Twitter. “Hurts still is harboring hopes of playing Monday night, and is traveling to Seattle separately from the team so as to try not get anyone else sick.”
The Seahawks quarterback is dealing with a groin injury and there’s a real chance he’s out when Philadelphia comes to town, according to Schefter. Hurts is dealing with an illness and originally was expected to play, based on an earlier report Sunday from Schefter.
It’s a pivotal game for both teams in terms of the NFC playoff race.
The Eagles are reeling, despite being 10-3 on the season. Back-to-back blowout losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys knocked the Eagles off the perch of the NFL’s best record.
However, the team still controls its own destiny and can win out to finish 14-3, win the NFC East and clinch the No. 2 seed at minimum. They’ll need Hurts to do so as Seattle needs Smith.
The Seahawks are 6-7 and tied for the final spot with the Green Bay Packers, although they and the Los Angeles Rams hold the current tiebreakers.
Hurts isn’t having the MVP-type season he did in 2022, mostly due to the turnovers this fall. Still, he has 3,129 yards, 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 66.5% completion percentage, 460 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
The same goes for Smith, who’s been hampered by nagging injuries. He turned in a comeback year in 2022 but this year has just 2,918 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 64.4% completion percentage.
Drew Lock started against the 49ers last week, a 28-16 loss. He finished with 269 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Hurts and Smith could be a good battle should both play. But as Schefter reported, Hurts is now questionable with an illness and Smith is sidelined again.
Both teams have plenty to play for the rest of the way and both want to certainly position themselves in proper playoff seeding.
It’s now a wait and see approach to see Hurts and Smith or Marcus Mariota vs. Lock Monday night in Seattle.