Eagles Make Signing That Tells Us More About Jalen Hurts’ Status For Sunday

Even though the Philadelphia Eagles have already clinched a playoff spot in the NFL Postseason, a win this Sunday will lock up the NFC East Division Title for the fourth time since 2016.

The Eagles are in control of the division right now and a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday will give them home-field advantage at least in the first couple round of the NFC Playoffs.

But when Franchise Quarterback Jalen Hurts left the Eagles loss to the Washington Commanders with a Concussion, his status for the game versus the Cowboys became unknown. The NFL Concussion Protocol is not something the Eagles have a say in and Hurts has to pass every stage of the process before he is cleared to return to play.

Also, in Sunday's loss to the Commanders, Backup Quarterback Kenny Pickett sustained a rib injury that has him as a Limited Participant at Practice this week. Pickett, who has 24 NFL starts at the Quarterback position, will be the Eagles' starter if Hurts is unavailable for the game versus the Cowboys.

Eagles Make Transaction That Signals Latest News About Jalen Hurts

Even though Head Coach Nick Sirianni refused to comment at Thursday's press conference about Jalen Hurts status in the NFL Concussion Protocol, the Eagles organization made a signing that could speak volumes about Hurts' health.

On Thursday, the Eagles signed Quarterback Ian Book to the Practice Squad. Book was the Eagles Third String Quarterback during the 2022 season and was released by the Eagles before the start of the 2023 NFL season.

At Thursday's Press Conference, Head Coach Nick Sirianni spoke about bringing Book back to the Eagles' Quarterback room:

"Ian (Book had) a highly productive college career - We really enjoyed our time with him (in 2022) and had high hopes for him. Obviously we didn't keep him around (for the 2023 season) but that was for different circumstances with other guys stepping up and playing good. But really liked him, just like the person and the player, has played and started games in the NFL. He played good football for us in the Preseason and so (Ian Book) is familiar with a lot of things here (in Philadelphia)."

After throwing for almost 9,000 Passing Yards during his career as the Starting Quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ian Book was selected in the 4th Round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. After starting one game for the Saints in 2022, Book was picked up by the Eagles for the 2022 NFL season.

After his first stint with the Eagles organization, Ian Book spent the 2023 NFL season on the New England Patriots Practice Squad. Book was with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 NFL Training Camp and Preseason before the Chiefs waived him back in August.

Book would be in line to be the Eagles 3rd String Quarterback this Sunday if Kenny Pickett starts versus the Cowboys. Tanner McKee, who the Eagles kept on their roster since the 2023 Preseason, would be the backup QB for Kenny Pickett.

While everyone is holding out hope for Jalen Hurts to return to action this Sunday, the Eagles would not sign a Quarterback to the Practice Squad on Thursday if they didn't have concerns about Quarterback depth, as reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show.

The Eagles are preparing to play without Jalen Hurts and the signing of Ian Book is a direct signal of those plans. Hurts short and long-term health is more important to the Eagles organization than him playing this Sunday versus the Dallas Cowboys.

Jalen Hurts has one of the top-selling Eagles Jerseys in 2024 but he is not the most popular Philadelphia Jersey this year. Here is the full list of top-selling Eagles Jerseys for 2024: