As the Philadelphia Eagles headed into Week 16, they were focused on winning the NFC East title and competing with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings for the top seed in the conference.

Now, however, their primary concern is for the health of Jalen Hurts.

Hurts experienced a concussion early in the Eagles’ 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders. It is not yet known how long he will be away from the field, which means the Eagles might need to pursue the NFC East title without their starting quarterback.

Here are the latest updates regarding Hurts’ concussion and the timeframe for his return.

What Happened to Jalen Hurts?

Hurts sustained a concussion during a scramble early in the Week 16 game against the Commanders. On a second-and-20 play with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter, he executed what seemed to be a planned quarterback draw, gaining 13 yards before being tackled by Bobby Wagner.

As Hurts was brought down, linebacker Frankie Luvu also joined in on the tackle, delivering a hard, yet legal hit, which led Hurts to hit the ground forcefully, impacting his head.

After the tackle, Hurts stood up and signaled to the umpire, Alex Moore, that he was fine, even giving a thumbs up. Despite this, Moore, who had seen Hurts closely, decided to stop the game and sent him for a concussion evaluation.

Hurts appeared ready to join back into the game later in that same drive, but the medical staff called him back to the sidelines. He was subsequently taken to the locker room where he was diagnosed with a concussion, ruling him out for the rest of the match.

Kenny Pickett replaced him and finished the game with 14 completions on 24 attempts for 143 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Jalen Hurts Injury Updates

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni did not have substantial information regarding Hurts’ condition during his postgame press briefing.

“I haven’t spoken with the medical team yet, so I do not have any updates at this time,” Sirianni informed reporters.

He did mention the brief instance where it seemed Hurts was about to re-enter the game before being directed back to the sidelines. Sirianni indicated that the control over Hurts’ return at that moment lay with the NFL’s neurotrauma consultant (UNC) as part of the league’s concussion policy.

“Anything relating to head injuries is not under our authority,” Sirianni stated.

This means that even if Hurts felt ready to play or believed he could continue, he would still need to clear the concussion protocol first, which he ultimately did not manage to do.

How Long Will Jalen Hurts Be Out?

The timeframe for Hurts’ absence due to his concussion remains unclear. The Eagles have yet to give an immediate update on his condition, but Sirianni is expected to provide new information early this week.

The positive news for Eagles fans is that Hurts might be ready for the Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. He only needs to pass the NFL’s concussion protocol first.

However, there is no certainty that he will quickly pass this evaluation. There have been several cases in the 2024 season where NFL players have been sidelined for extended periods due to concussions. For instance, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed five games following a concussion in Week 2, while Cleveland Browns receiver Cedric Tillman has been out for four games since suffering a concussion in Week 12.

There is considerable variability in outcomes for Hurts as he looks to return and assist the Eagles in securing the NFC East.

Overview of NFL Concussion Protocol

The NFL’s protocol for concussions is a comprehensive set of guidelines designed to ensure player safety following head injuries.

The process begins on game day when a player is pinpointed for evaluation after a potential head injury. Typically, this is identified by officials or the UNC monitoring player actions and replay footage to detect significant impacts to the head.

Once a player is flagged, testing is conducted by the team’s doctor and UNC, focusing on so-called “no-go” symptoms, which include loss of consciousness, confusion, amnesia, ataxia, and more. Additionally, they review the player’s past concussions and examine video footage to further assess the injury.

If there’s any doubt about a player’s condition during sideline evaluations, the player will be escorted to the locker room. Once a player is placed in the concussion protocol, they must complete a five-step process before being allowed to play again. Below are these five important steps, according to the NFL:

1. Symptom-limited activity
2. Aerobic exercise
3. Football-specific exercise
4. Training drills focused on clubs without physical contact
5. Complete football activities/clearance

The NFL’s concussion protocol emphasizes that every concussion is “individual” and that “recovery times can differ among players.” This makes it challenging to determine how long a player might need to be sidelined due to the injury.

As a result, Eagles supporters may have to exercise patience as they wait for Hurts to get back on the field.