Jalen Hurts has cleared concussion protocol and will be available for the Philadelphia Eagles in their wild-card game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
The 26-year-old quarterback, who has been out since Dec. 22 with a concussion and a finger injury, returned to full practice three days before the NFL playoffs.
Hurts suffered the concussion during the Eagles’ loss to the Washington Commanders on Dec. 22, leaving the field after his head hit the turf on a tackle. Hurts did not practice in Week 17 or Week 18; he was limited in practice on Wednesday, but upgraded to a full participants on Friday.
Per the league’s concussion protocol, a player must be cleared by the team’s Independent Neurological Consultant before returning to full participation.
Hurts’ return is a positive for the Eagles, who spent two games without their starting quarterback. Kenny Pickett took over as QB1 for Philadelphia’s win against the Dallas Cowboys before suffering a rib injury; Tanner McKee took over from there and led the Eagles to another win against the New York Giants on Sunday. Pickett was limited in Thursday’s practice with the rib injury.
The status of Green Bay’s QB1, Jordan Love, is also up in the air for Sunday. Love was also limited in practice on Wednesday with a right elbow injury, but was a full participant on Thursday. After Wednesday’s practice, Love said that he was “hopeful” he would be able to play this weekend.