Reading between the lines of the Hurts injury status
by John Kincade
I’ve watched every daytime soap opera that had ever been broadcast in my lifetime. I’ve seen all of the Fast and the Furious movies, so I have seen bad acting. The performance from Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts is going to be the best game of poker ever OR laughable. We will find out on Saturday afternoon. Is Jalen playing or not? Is the decision really hanging in the balance or not? Let’s try and read between the lines…
Yesterday on The John Kincade Show I discussed that a well placed source had told me that IF the Cowboys game outcome would have determined if the 2022 Eagles go to the playoffs or not he would have played. It was also the assumption that the team would instead start Gardner Minshew and give him some time to heal. Then we were joined by Adam Schefter and he reported almost the exact same message. His expectation was that this was not a long term situation and that the team would protect Hurts with a week of rest. It all makes sense.
Then Nick Sirianni addressed the media and made it out as if the starting QB against the Dallas Cowboys was up for grabs. They would monitor the situation and make a decision later in the week. He spoke of how Hurts is a “quick healer” and that “his body isn’t like everyone else’s”. The water was muddied. Now you are left trying to figure out whether Hurts is starting the game or not after Jalen took to the podium. Jalen wants to start against Dallas and he spoke of preparing for battle. So what do you believe?
I’ll go out on a limb and call complete gamesmanship on the part of the Eagles, Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts. It’s my belief that Gardner Minshew will be the starter this weekend in Dallas. I expect the team to say Saturday morning that though he is “very close to action” they will out of caution give him 8 more days of rest before the Saints game. I’ve seen many press conferences about injury and my belief is that they want the Cowboys defensive staff having to prepare all week long for both QB options. That seems like a very smart strategy.
I want to applaud the Eagles if that is the plan. With a 3 game lead over the Cowboys and needing only one victory to claim the top seed in the NFC, I would never play Jalen Hurts this weekend. 5 days rest as opposed to 13 on a shoulder strain is a huge difference. Let him get rested, healed up and ready to deliver a first round bye by beating the Saints at home on New Years Day. It would be reckless to not make sure that your ultimate weapon is ready to deliver at peak performance in January. I also like the idea of him not having 34 days of inaction as opposed to 20 before their first playoff game.
It’s a lose lose situation for Dallas. Don’t let them get another look at Hurts and potentially demoralize them with a loss at home to the Eagles backup QB. Santa, you know what this Eagles fan base wants for Christmas! You can deliver that gift in February, Christmas Eve isn’t nearly as important.
