The NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on December 26 that the Eagles signed quarterback Ian Book to their practice squad. Book played for the Eagles in 2022.

“Hurts isn’t the only quarterback dealing with an injury right now,” Garafolo wrote on his official X account. “Backup Kenny Pickett had to undergo an x-ray on his ribs. following the Eagles’ loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 16. The #Eagles are signing QB Ian Book to the practice squad following his visit yesterday, sources say. Jalen Hurts (concussion) was listed as DNP on yesterday’s projected practice report while Kenny Pickett (ribs) was limited. Tanner McKee and Book now also available.”

Hurts has not even been a limited participant in practice this week as he’s been in concussion protocol. Book is likely to suit up in Week 17 as Philadelphia’s third emergency quarterback, with Tanner McKee serving as Pickett’s backup.

“Three quarterbacks at practice,” PHLY’s Zach Berman wrote on his official X account on December 26. “Jalen Hurts is not one of them. Kenny Pickett is throwing with Tanner McKee before practice.”

The Eagles saw their 10-game winning streak snapped in a 36-33 loss to the Commanders in which Hurts was taken out of the game with a concussion in the first quarter. Philadelphia is currently 12-3 and occupies the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs.

Book Led Notre Dame to 2 CFP Appearances

Book was Notre Dame’s starting quarterback for 3 seasons from 2018 to 2020 — a stretch in which he led the Irish to 2 appearances in the College Football Playoff, where they lost to the eventual national champion both times with Clemson in 2018 and Alabama in 2020.

Book’s 30 career wins set the Notre Dame record for quarterbacks and his 72 career touchdown passes were second all time behind just Brady Quinn.

Book had his best season at Notre Dame in 2019 — sandwiched between the CFP appearances — with 3,034 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and 6 interceptions to go with 546 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns.

Headed into the 2021 NFL draft, the biggest issue with Book seemed to be his size, at just 6-foot and 211 pounds.

“Notre Dame’s winningest quarterback brings plenty of leadership and overall intangibles with him,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote his his pre-draft evaluation. “He has big game experience in his background, too. However, his size and arm strength fall below NFL standards and there isn’t anything in his game that he can really hang his hat on that counters those issues.”

Journeyman NFL Quarterback Since 2021

Book was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round (No. 133 overall) in 2021 and signed a 4-year, $4.15 million contract.

The Eagles are his fourth team in 4 seasons, which has also included stops with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. Book made his only career start in 2021 with the Saints, when he went 12-of-20 passing for 120 yards, no touchdowns and 2 interceptions while taking 8 sacks in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16.

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One of those improvements should probably be along the offensive line, where Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder thinks the Eagles should add veteran offensive lineman La’el Collins to the practice squad to add depth. It’s probably the best they could ask for in terms of a late season insurance policy.

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The most concerning thing that came out of the game was the rash of injuries at the most important position on the field, with quarterback Jalen Hurts leaving the game in the first quarter and now in concussion protocol and backup quarterback Kenny Pickett undergoing x-rays for a rib injury following the game.

With a 12-3 game and 2 games remaining, the most important thing for the Eagles down the stretch might not be securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs but getting Hurts and Pickett healthy for a possible Super Bowl run. That would also mean turning to third string quarterback Tanner McKee, who is in his second season and yet to play in an NFL game.

“Tanner has done a good job in scout team and developmental periods,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told The Athletic’s RJ Kraft and Brooks Kubena on December 23. “Tanner gives us a lot of confidence. Kenny gives us a lot of confidence and that is a tribute to (general manager) Howie (Roseman) and his staff and all the pieces he has given us to work with and the depth that he has given us to work with.”

While Sirianni might be confident in McKee, he might be the only one. The Eagles should make a move to bring veteran free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with two winnable home games remaining in the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 and New York Giants in Week 18.

Bridgewater, who made his lone Pro Bowl with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, has expressed his desire to return to the NFL after spending 2024 as the head coach at his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, where they won the Class 3A state championship with a 41-0 win over Raines High on December 14.

Bridgewater spent 2023 as a backup for the Detroit Lions before announcing his retirement in February 2024.

“We wanted to win a state championship, and then Coach goes back to the league, see what happens, and then come back in February and continue coaching high school football,” Bridgewater told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on December 17.

McKee Sixth Round Pick in 2023 NFL Draft

The Eagles selected McKee, 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, in the sixth round (No. 188 overall) in the 2023 NFL draft out of Stanford, where he went 6-16 as the starter over the 2021 and 2022 seasons with 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

He also displayed little of the mobility that would benefit the Eagles offense and Hurts and Pickett both possess — McKee finished his college career with negative-86 rushing yards.

Bridgewater Has Been Consistent Backup QB

Bridgewater was a first round pick (No. 32 overall) out of Louisville by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2014 NFL draft and one of the NFL’s elite young quarterbacks through his first 2 seasons. He missed all of 2016 and all but 1 game in 2017 with a knee injury before he was released by the Vikings. He was a backup for the New York Jets in 2018 and for the New Orleans Saints in 2019, where he went 5-0 filling in for injured starter Drew Brees.

That season propelled Bridgewater to the biggest payday of his career — a 3-year, $63 million free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers in March 2020.

Bridgewater lasted 1 season as the starter for the Panthers before they traded him to the Denver Broncos, where he went 7-7 as the starter in 2021 before spending 1 season each as a backup for the Miami Dolphins and Lions in 2023.

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Eagles 33, Commanders 36: How it Went Down

• Final Score: Eagles 33, Commanders 36
• Records: Eagles 12-3; Commanders 10-5
• Betting Winners: Commanders +4; Commanders +177
• Heavy on Eagles Player of the Game: Jayden Daniels: 5 TDs, 258 yds – first Washington QB to throw 5 touchdowns since Mark Rypien in 1991
• Next week for the Eagles: at home vs Cowboys 4:25

WATCH & READ the Heavy on Eagles Postgame Rant: The Birds Lost a Game That Was Almost Impossible to Lose

You can watch a video version of my postgame rant above. The written version is below:

When you turn the ball over five times in an NFL game there is literally less than a one percent chance of you winning that game. Today the Washington Commanders were giving the ball away like Santa gives out toys on Christmas Eve – three fumbles and two interceptions, but the Eagles were unable to just say thank you and sport their division championship t-shirts and hats on enemy soil and get out of dodge with their 13th win of the year.  Instead they defied the odds and the football gods who virtually never, ever let you win a game when you turn the ball over five times or more.  It like never happens.  Its only happened once this year prior to today when the Lions beat the Texans about six weeks ago but other than that it hasn’t happened this season, until today.

If Birds’ quarterback Jalen Hurts doesn’t go down five minutes into the game with a concussion this one would have been over by halftime.  But despite the loss of QB1 it was an epic opening quarter for the Eagles, a first quarter that saw the Birds score more points today (21) than they had in the first quarter of the first 13 games combined (17).  Saquon Barkley had 109 yards, including a 68 yard TD run in the game’s first 13 minutes.  Yes, you read that right.  Barkley had 109 yards and he popped for a 68-yard score and there was still 2:18 left on the clock in the first quarter.  At that point the Eagles were coasting with a 14-point lead over their division rivals from the nation’s capital.

It’s hard to criticize the top defense in the NFL but since they didn’t show up today, despite recording the five takeaways, it is open season on Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s guys for giving up 22 fourth quarter points, the last eight with just :06 left, as Commanders’ rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels hit Jamison Crowder in the back of the endzone to give Washington a stunning victory, 36-33.  Washington’s former Heisman winner threw five touchdown passes today, the first time a Washington quarterback has done that since Mark Rypien did it back in 1991.

Birds’ backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who hadn’t thrown a pass in a meaningful game in the last 346 days coming into today, was barely good enough to help his team lock down the victory, but he did convert a huge 4th down pass to A.J. Brown late in the game that led to a field goal and following a should-be-game-sealing interception by Reid Blankenship, he hit the sure-handed Devonta Smith across the middle on an easy pitch and catch, but the Birds’ former Heisman winner flat out choked it up and flat out dropped what would have essentially been a game-sealing first down at the 16-yard line, on a 3rd and 5 with just over two minutes left.  It was a drop that undoubtedly cost Philly the win as they not only had to settle for a field goal, but had to give the back ball to Washington, who went right down the field, 57 yards in six plays in 1:52 .  If you’re keeping score at home that’s the second dropped ball by an Eagles’ superstar this year that would have, in all likelihood, ended the game.  That’s two less wins this year because of two inexplicable drops, and it’s those two losses that will ultimately cost the Eagles the top seed in the NFC.

Other Eagles’ ineptitude shoutouts go to Kicker Jake Elliott, who left a 56-yard field goal short at the end of the first half.  At the time it was his 6th miss from 50+ yards this year in six tries, and oh-by-the-way did I mention, it was short?  Kinda like how the Eagles came up today in Landover, Maryland in a must-win game.

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“Hurts left the field midway through the first quarter after his head collided with the turf as he was hit by linebacker Frankie Luvu while going to the ground following a 13-yard run,” ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote on December 22. “After being evaluated in the medical tent, he walked inside and was later ruled out. Kenny Pickett, the former Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller, replaced him in the lineup and completed the drive by throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead.”

Headed into Week 16, Hurts had led the Eagles to a 12-2 record and 10 consecutive victories — he’s also yet to miss a game this season due to injury. The Commanders rallied for a 36-33 win with Hurts sidelined to end the Eagles’ 10-game winning streak.

Following the game, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the injury to Hurts — there was a brief moment after the injury where both Hurts and Sirianni seemed prepared to have him go back in the game.

“I haven’t talked to the medical staff so I don’t have any updates on that stuff (about Hurts),” Sirianni said in the postgame press conference. “Anything to do with the head, that’s out of our hands.”

Hurts Already Dealing With One Injury

Hurts’ concussion was just the latest injury he’s had to deal with over the last month.

On December 16, Hurts told The Associated Press he’s playing with a broken finger on his left, non-throwing hand following a 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15 in which he went 25-of-32 passing for 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 45 yards and 1 touchdown.

From the AP: “It’s broken, and it did impact my play,” Hurts said. ““I’ve known it’s been at the state it’s at all week, and I don’t really want to put too much more into it. I can say I don’t think it got any worse today. If it’s shattered, it’s shattered. It is what it is.”

Hurts apparently hurt his finger in a Week 14 win over the Carolina Panthers in which he was 14-of-21 passing for 108 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 59 yards and 1 touchdown.

It was the lowest passing total for Hurts since the regular-season finale in 2023 — a 27-10 loss to the New York Giants in which Hurts also dealt with a finger injury. In that game, he threw for just 55 yards and sat out the second half.

Hurts has been one of the NFL’s most durable quarterbacks throughout his career.

Since becoming the Eagles’ full time starter in 2021, Hurts has missed just 4 games — 2 games in 2021 with a high ankle sprain and 2 games in 2022 with a shoulder issue. He played all 17 regular-season games for the Eagles in 2023.

Eagles Have Solid Backup QB Plan in Place

As far as backup quarterbacks go, Pickett is probably one of the better options in the entire NFL — a former first round pick with multiple seasons of starting experience who is only 26 years old and has a similarly styled game to Hurts.

Pickett was a first round pick by the Steelers in 2022 and went 14-10 as a starter through 2 seasons before he was traded to the Eagles along with a 2024 fourth round pick in exchange for a 2024 third round pick and a pair of 2025 seventh round picks after the Steelers signed free agent quarterback Russell Wilson.

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As we’ll get into in today’s Heavy on Eagles Game Day Rant: The wild, soap-opera-level dysfunction doesn’t take away one key reality: As they head south today to take on the division rival Commanders, the Birds are built to win now. And they must deliver. We’ll take a quick look at the basics, then dive right into today’s rant.

The Basics: Eagles at Commanders

• Who: Eagles (12-2) at Commanders (9-5)
• When: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
• Where: Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland
• TV: FOX
• Betting: Eagles -4 ; Money Line: Eagles -185, Commanders +150

Heavy on Eagles Game Day Rant: The Eagles Are a Dysfunctional Mess. But They’re Built to Win Now

GettyHead coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Another installment of  “As the Eagles Turn” happens this Sunday, this time on the enemy soil that is Northwest Stadium, in the 11-mile shadow of our nation’s capital.

In the real world, relationships that have the least drama, the least turmoil and the least emotional purging are usually the ones that are the most successful.  This isn’t the case with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Right now they are NFL aristocracy, the “haves” if you will. They HAVE an explosive offense, ranked 8th in the NFL, they HAVE an unyielding, relentless defense that is tops in the league. They HAVE the NFL’s top running back who’s closing in on a 40 year rushing record.  They HAVE a veritable bevy of elite talent, from the rookie level all the way up to the vested veterans, stars, stars and more stars.  The Eagles are at the top of the NFL food chain, where sausage usually dares to climb.   They’re also far and away the loudest, most polarizing and seemingly dysfunctional and unorthodox team in the league.  No one will ever misdiagnose them as being “buttoned-up.”

They HAVE star players who snipe at each other publicly after a franchise-tying 9th straight win. They HAVE a fan favorite, 15 year veteran, who then goes out and affirms the locker room cultural discourse on his own radio show the very next day,  just to make sure the tire fire is bright enough should the Magi encounter cloudy skies on their gift-bearing pilgrimage to the Holy land.

They HAVE an owner who sometimes meddles where he shouldn’t, a general manager, who, when he’s not in timeout, is either busy building Super Bowl rosters or botching first round draft picks.  They HAVE a coach, who doesn’t discriminate against who he goes after on the sidelines, one of his star players perhaps, or maybe the home fans if the situation calls for it,  preferring an open diatribe rather than a tete-a-tete.  He’s outspoken and doesn’t mince words, unless of course he’s at the podium, when his press conferences sometimes morph into monologues straight out of  The Tower of Babel.  And If you want to take shots at him, be careful, you might hit one of his kids.  

Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni’s response to the unparalleled criticism, that can only be possible in a town, who’s nickname was the precursor for his most innovative, creative and successful legacy “chunk” play, that gains a whopping 1-2 yards per attempt, is winning.  He’s the winningest active coach in the game (46-19, 704%), an offensive savant who’s opening quarter’s scripted plays have yielded a league worst 1.3 points through the first 13 games this season.  In other words his offense basically only shows up for three quarters and then runs over everybody on their way to a franchise-high 10 straight wins, while leading the league in rushing for the second time in his four year tenure at the Eagles’ helm.  Coach also enjoys watering flowers as much as he does cutting down trees and likes to sport a defiant skin-toned hair style on occasion. 

Sirianni apologizes for nothing and he shouldn’t have to.  All his team does is win, and win a lot. In their first 12 games over the last three seasons, the Eagles are 31-5, (11-1, 10-2, 10-2).  The dysfunctional facade just works for this team.  Well, almost.  While Sirianni’s win-loss numbers are certainly gaudy, the harsh reality is that the coach’s jewelry box is bereft of the only thing that really matters – a ring,  Shakespeare said it best in Hamlet, “The ring’s the thing.”  O.K. fine, he actually said “The play’s the thing.”,  but just work with me here.

It’s Super Bowl or Bust for the Eagles

GettyPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The point is this.  It’s Super Bowl or bust for this team this year.  Not next year or the year after that.  This is their time.  If you disagree with me and are satiated by a fabulous regular season that comes up a hair short in the postseason, then you should have your fan card revoked effective immediately, if not sooner.

The Birds came within seconds of capturing the franchise’s second Super Bowl title in six seasons a couple of years ago but they couldn’t finish.  And team’s that don’t finish unfortunately become nice little bedtime short stories that just collect dust on the bookshelf and years from now just fade into bolivian, as Mike Tyson might say.

The Eagles are in the business of winning and right now they have unfinished business. The spotlight is once again on them, even if they don’t land the top seed in the NFC.  

The door is wide open but they don’t need to walk through it, they need to kick it down. It might sound like a bad deal but sometimes you create your own pressure and set your own bar so high that if you don’t deliver, you risk an irrational coup d’etat from your critics and fan base alike.  But that’s life in the NFL.  This team is box office despite the disconcerting modus operandi sometimes.  It just works for them.  Last year they fell apart down the stretch, an epic collapse, the origin of which is still murky at best.  This year’s drama and extraneous noise seems to galvanize this group.  That’s a great sign but these windows of opportunity can close quickly and without much notice.  Just ask the 49ers.

Can the journey be fun, enjoyable, rewarding and entertaining sometimes? Of course it can but this is a business where the only thing that matters is the destination.  The 2022 journey was amazing. Right up to the point where I was picking red and yellow Lombardi-trophy shaped confetti out of my hair filing out of State Farm Stadium, my face nummer than if I was getting prepped for a triple root canal.

You know how you tell the winner of a prize fight?  You wait until the fight is over and one guy is left standing. That’s how you know who won. If the Eagles aren’t the ones left standing on the dais in New Orleans on the evening of February 9th, then the 2024 campaign will go down as just another bust of a season.  That’s life in the NFL.</span

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While the Titans are bottoming out at 3-11 under first year head coach Brian Callahan, you can be sure they’ll make moves in the offseason that start with improving the offensive line — and they’ll have some flexibility to do so with a respectable $63 million in estimated salary cap space.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks a cost effective move to improve the roster right away would be to add veteran Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jack Driscoll in 2025 free agency, bringing in a player who could either start or add depth at multiple positions right away depending on Tennessee’s needs.

“The biggest issue is at right tackle where Nicholas Petit-Frere has not taken the step forward Tennessee would have hoped,” Ballentine wrote. “Drafting someone is going to require another learning curve, so seeking a free-agent option might be best. Jack Driscoll has put together some good film in limited action with the Eagles. He would be a great depth addition at minimum.”

Driscoll: Veteran Role Player Knows How to Win

Don’t underestimate the appeal of not just Driscoll but all of Philadelphia’s free agents following the season because one consistent year to year is that NFL teams are desperate to bring winners onto their rosters.

Driscoll, 6-foot-5 and 312 pounds, fits the bill. He was a fourth round pick (No. 145 overall) out of Auburn in the 2020 NFL draft and played in 54 games with 17 starts over his first 4 seasons, including playing in all 17 games in 2022 and 2023.

The Eagles have already let Driscoll go into free agency once, when he signed a 1-year, $1.79 million contract with the Miami Dolphins in March 2024 but was released as part of the team’s final roster cuts in training camp.

Driscoll signed with the Eagles several weeks later and was put on the active roster in October. He’s played in 10 games in 2024 and the Eagles sit at 12-2 and are on a 10-game winning streak headed into Week 16.

Estimating Driscoll’s Payday in 2025

One thing Driscoll has done with his play in 2024 — other than extending his career by another year — is likely earn at least a slight raise in 2025.

If we’re looking for a comparison to the kind of money Driscoll might ask for and receiver in free agency, one good example would be veteran Washington Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, who signed a 1-year, $2.8 million contract in March 2024 — money we can reasonably think the Titans might offer Driscoll.

Right now, the Titans are projected to have the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft but have so many holes to fill on the roster it is almost impossible to put priority on one position.

They also don’t have a high enough pick to take either of the “elite” quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft in Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who are being projected as the top 2 picks.

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In this particular case, Parsons, a 3-time NFL All-Pro outside linebacker, would rather see the Eagles lose to the Washington Commanders in Week 16 than see his own team keep their postseason hopes alive — the Cowboys are eliminated from the playoffs with either a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or a win by the Commanders.

“Nah, at this point, it’s (expletive) Philly, now,” Parsons told The Athletic’s Jon Machota on December 19. “Even if we got eliminated, like, I gotta crush Philly. (Expletive) them. I hate them now. I be seeing them talk so much on social (media).”

While it might seem bizarre for a player to openly root for something that would hurt his own team, it could be Parsons has just given up on the Cowboys’ playoff hopes — according to NFL.com, Dallas has just a 1 percent chance of clinching 1 of the 4 remaining NFC playoff spots.

The Cowboys travel to face the Eagles in Week 17. Philadelphia won their first regular-season matchup, 34-6 in Week 10, which was Parsons’ first game back after missing 4 games with a high ankle sprain.

Parsons Praised Commanders Rookie QB

Another possibility could be that Parsons is just a huge fan of Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who he took time to praise on his weekly podcast following the Cowboys’ upset win over Washington in Week 12.

“Jayden Daniels is nice as heck … like I knew he was good but I didn’t know he was that good,” Parsons said on November 27. “Film doesn’t really explain how good he is. I said this to him in the game, I said … ‘I think you can be unstoppable.’

“… He’s as fast as Lamar (Jackson). I don’t think he’s as shifty, but he’s fast-fast. He’s up there with like Jalen Hurts, Kyler (Murray), Lamar. His game speed is serious. I don’t want to underestimate that … I think he can be a special quarterback on a really, really high level.”

The Commanders are 9-5 and in the final NFC playoff spot — they face the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Week 18 to close out the regular season.

Parsons Having Season to Forget in 2024

Parsons also might just want this season to be over as soon as possible.

The Cowboys lost 5 consecutive games to drop to 3-7 before bouncing back to win 3 of their last 4 games and star quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9.

The year has been marked by more internal discord than anything — a large helping of which has come from Parsons, who went out of his way to throw embattled Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy under the bus after the loss to the Eagles on November 10.

“You know that’s above my paygrade on if Mike is coaching again next year … Mike can leave and go wherever he wants but (the) guys I kind of feel bad for — guys like Zack Martin,” Parsons said. “Guys who might be in their last year on their way out, you know, because that’s who I wanted to hold the trophy for.  You want to win games and do great things with those type of legends who put in more time and work (than) Mike McCarthy ever did. So, those are the kind of guys that I have so much sympathy and hurt for.”

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ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky was the latest to take a dig at Hurts on December 19 on “First Take” when he placed the NFL All-Pro and 2-time Pro Bowler low on his list of NFC quarterbacks.

“I would not put (Hurts) in my top five right now,” Orlovsky said. “Jalen is playing really well … it’s not a knock on Jalen.”

Orlovsky didn’t just put Hurts outside of his Top 5 — he almost put him outside of his Top 10.

The former NFL quarterback put Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels all ahead of Hurts, who signed a 5-year, $255 million contract extension with the Eagles in March 2023.

Orlovsky Known For One of NFL’s Biggest Bloopers

Orlovsky was a fifth round pick (No. 145 overall) by the Lions in the 2005 NFL draft who played 13 seasons for 5 different teams but is best known for one unforgettable blooper while playing for the Lions during the 2008 regular season.

Playing against the Vikings and lined up in the shotgun in his own end zone, Orlovsky took the snap and dropped back to pass … and out of the back of his own end zone for a safety in what turned out to be a 12-10 Lions loss.

Orlovsky started 7 games for the Lions in 2008 as the franchise went 0-16, becoming the first NFL team to go winless since the league’s regular season schedule expanded from 14 games to 16 games in 1978. The Cleveland Browns also went 0-16 in 2017.

Hurts Has Faced Criticism Within Own Locker Room

Orlovsky’s slight isn’t the first time Hurts has faced criticism in 2024 despite the Eagles’ overwhelming success to this point — criticism that’s come inside of his own locker room as well as in the media.

After a 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on December 8, Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both called out the passing game after Hurts went 14-of-21 passing for 108 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.

One week later, Hurts told The Associated Press he was playing with a broken finger on his left, non-throwing hand following a 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in which he went 25-of-32 passing for 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 45 yards and 1 touchdown.

“It’s broken, and it did impact my play,” Hurts said. “ … If it’s shattered, it’s shattered. It is what it is.”

The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz, said Hurts was “closer to bottom 10” as an NFL quarterback on an episode of “The Ringer NFL Show” on December 11.

“(Hurts) is far worse than the quarterback we saw in 2022,” Ruiz said. “And I think that’s the biggest concern that it’s not like his play has regressed as things have regressed around him. I think you could kind of make the argument that things might be better around him … He’s just not making the throws and I don’t know how to quantify that.”

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One of those defensive stars is now even being considered a possible candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who has made the leap to becoming one of the NFL’s elite defenders in just his second season.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler both singled out Carter as a “sleeper” candidate for the NFL’s top defensive honor with the Eagles sitting at 12-2 and on a 10-game winning streak.

“My favorite sleeper whose name is starting to come up among the top defensive players in the league is the Eagles’ Jalen Carter,” Graziano wrote. “It’s probably too soon for him to win it this season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he became a fixture in these discussions in future seasons, maybe as early as next year.”

Carter has been virtually unblockable in 2024 with 39 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12 TFL, 15 QB hits, 5 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble.

“Carter is a great call,” Fowler wrote. “He gets constant double-teams and fights through holding plays that aren’t called. The Eagles have dozens of examples of that. When you get underofficiated, that means you’re a disruptor in the middle.”

Carter Once Projected as No. 1 Overall Pick

Carter, 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds, had a direct path to NFL stardom laid out for him just 2 years ago — one that almost got taken away from him entirely because of an off-the-field incident.

In 3 seasons at the University of Georgia, Carter was a 2-time All-SEC pick and unanimous All-American as the Bulldogs went 37-3 and won back-to-back College Football Playoff national championships in his final 2 seasons in 2021 and 2022.

After being projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft following the 2022 season, Carter was involved in an incident on January 15, 2023, in which a Georgia staffer, Chandler LeCroy, and one of Carter’s teammates, Devin Willock, were both killed in an auto accident while racing Carter’s vehicle, with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.

Carter eventually pled no contest to reckless driving and street racing and his draft stock took a hit, sending him plummeting to the Eagles at No. 9 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

In an up-and-down rookie season, Carter played in 16 games but made just 1 start and finished with 33 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 8 TFL and 9 QB hits while still making the PFWAA All-Rookie Team.

Template Laid Out for DT to Win Defensive POY

We don’t have to look far into the past to see what the markers are for an interior defensive lineman to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year — former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald won the award 3 times in his 10-year career.

Donald, who retired following the 2023 season, won NFL Defensive POY in 2017, 2018 and 2020 and a closer look at his numbers from those years shows Carter still has quite a bit of work to do.

In the 3 seasons in which he won NFL Defensive POY, Arnold averaged 48.3 tackles, 15.0 sacks, 18 TFL, 32 QB hits and 4.3 forced fumbles — reflective of a player considered perhaps the greatest interior defensive lineman in NFL history.

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Now, with just 3 games left and the Eagles sitting at 12-2 and on a 10-game winning streak, they could be getting some of that pass rushing talent back.

“The Eagles are getting a key defensive player back on the field this week,” Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons wrote on December 18. “Philadelphia announced on Wednesday that the club has opened the 21-day practice window for defensive end Bryce Huff. Huff underwent a procedure on his wrist in November after playing through an issue for a few weeks. The Eagles signed Huff as a free agent after he spent his first four seasons with the Jets. In 10 games this year, Huff has recorded 2.5 sacks with three tackles for loss and four QB hits.”

Huff has missed the last 4 games for the Eagles, who travel to face the Washington Commanders in an NFC East matchup in Week 16. He’s also not the only edge rusher for the Eagles who has gone down with an injury this season — 15-year veteran Brandon Graham was ruled out for the rest of the season after tearing his triceps in a Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Injury May Have Held Huff Back Early in Season

When the Eagles began to turn to rookie defensive end Jalyx Hunt over Huff in the middle of the season, it caused more than a few eyebrows to be raised.

As it turned out, Huff was dealing with a major issue with his wrist at the time that would end up requiring surgery and landing him on the injured reserve.

“Huff posted 10 sacks for the New York Jets last season but has had a disappointing start to his time in Philadelphia,” ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote on November 20. “He has posted 2.5 sacks and four quarterback hits through 10 games, well short of expectations that came with the lucrative three-year, $51 million free agent contract he signed this offseason. He has been wearing a cast on the wrist for the past couple weeks. His playing time has dipped since the injury cropped up, averaging just 11 snaps per game over the past three weeks compared to 28 snaps over the first seven games.”

Eagles Signed Huff to Massive Free Agent Contract

The Eagles paid big for Huff after the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Memphis product went from undrafted to one of the NFL’s elite edge rushers in 4 seasons with the Jets and signed him to a 3-year, $51.1 million contract in March 2024.

“The Eagles’ decision to invest heavily in Huff was largely based on his impressive pressure rates with the Jets,” wrote Heavy.com’s Beth Mishler-Elmore on November 11. “In 2023, he led the NFL with a 21.8% pressure rate (minimum 250 pass rushes), per Next Gen Stats. That efficiency created high expectations for his impact in Philadelphia.”

While Huff only had 7.5 sacks through his first 3 seasons with the Jets, he had a breakout year in 2023 with 10.0 sacks.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders reached out to Philadelphia Eagles running back and NFL MVP candidate Saquon Barkley this week, with Barkley sharing a picture on social media of a signed jersey sent to him from Sanders with an emotional message on it: “To Saquon. I love the fact that you’ve shown everyone how valuable you really are.”

All the heart emojis. All the emotional crying emojis. All class.

Sanders’ gesture to Barkley comes toward the end of a historic season — something Sanders knows a lot about. With 3 games left in the regular season, Barkley has already set the Eagles’ franchise single-season record with 1,688 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

The Eagles are also the NFL’s hottest team, with a 12-2 record and a 10-game winning streak headed into a Week 16 road game against the Washington Commanders.

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The Virginian Pilot’s David Teel and Michael Sauls reported on December 17 that former Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons quarterback and 2001 NFL draft No. 1 overall pick Michael Vick has agreed to become Norfolk State’s new head coach — his first head coaching job on any level.

From The Virginian Pilot: “A quarter-century after quarterbacking Virginia Tech to the brink of a national title, Michael Vick is attempting to bring championship football to Norfolk State — as the Spartans’ fledgling head coach. Vick and NSU agreed to contract terms Tuesday, multiple sources said, with an introductory news conference expected within a week. He replaces Dawson Odums, whom the Spartans dismissed last month after a four-season run in which the program went 15-30.”

Vick grew up in Newport News, Virginia, which is approximately 30 miles from Norfolk and stayed in his home state to star at Virginia Tech, where he led the Hokies to the BCS National Championship Game as a redshirt freshman following the 1999 season.

Coach Prime May Have Changed College Football

The comparison between Vick taking a head coaching job has to be compared to the ascent of University of Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders — better known as Coach Prime.

Sanders shocked the football world when he became Jackson State’s head coach in 2020 but it’s worth pointing out he’d spent 8 seasons as a high school football head coach and offensive coordinator before that.

Sanders’ success may have changed how colleges approach hires — and Vick gets to start his coaching career on the FCS level, just like Sanders. If he has the same success will be an uphill battle. Sanders went 23-3 over his final 2 seasons at Jackson State, including going 16-0 in SWAC play.

Colorado went 1-11 in 2022, the year before Sanders was hired, then improved to 4-8 in 2023 and 9-3 in 2024, and they’ll face BYU in the Alamo Bowl on December 28.

Norfolk State went 3-8 in 2024 and has only made the postseason twice in program history, on the NCAA Division II level in 1984 and on the FCS level in 2011, when they lost to Old Dominion in the first round.

Vick Talking to Multiple Schools Before Hire

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on December 16 that former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was in discussions with Sacramento State to become its next head coach at the same time The Virginian Pilot reported he was in talks with Norfolk State.

“Sacramento State is in discussions to hire former Pro-Bowl QB Mike Vick as its new head coach, per sources,” Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Sacramento State plans to move up to FBS, is building a new stadium and has over $50 million in NIL. Sacramento State would build an experienced coaching staff around Vick that is inline with the new frontier of college football.”

Norfolk State has an early season game against a Big Ten Conference opponent in 2025, when they travel to face Rutgers on September 13.

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That’s because the Eagles used their first 2 picks in the draft on college cornerbacks, with Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell in the first round (No. 22 overall) and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean in the second round (No. 4o overall). Both players have proven as rookies they are likely the building blocks for the next decade in the secondary.

While draft day probably wasn’t a very fun day for the cornerbacks already on the roster, everything since then has been gravy — the Eagles are 12-2 and on a 10-game winning streak with the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs very much within reach.

It’s also made the veteran cornerbacks with expiring cornerbacks lucrative targets for other NFL teams in free agency in 2025 — everyone wants a winner — and Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers could go after veteran Philadelphia cornerback Avonte Maddox.

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Matt Holder of Bleacher Report has an intriguing suggestion: He thinks Philly should pursue current Los Angeles Chargers edge Khalil Mack when free agency hits.

“Josh Sweat’s and Graham’s contracts are about to expire, Graham has also publicly admitted to contemplating retirement in the offseason, and Bryce Huff has been a disappointing acquisition in 2024. In other words, Philadelphia might be looking for some help on the edge of its defense this spring,” Holder wrote on December 16, adding:

“Despite being 33 years old, Mack is still playing at a high level this year. Heading into this weekend, Pro Football Focus has credited him with 39 total pressures and the fourth-highest grade (91.7) at the position. While the eight-time Pro Bowler will likely be expensive on the open market, the Eagles are currently projected to have about $32.1 million of cap space, per Over The Cap. Also, he’s yet to win a playoff game and might be willing to take a discount if it means playing for a Super Bowl contender.”

Should Philadelphia Eagles Try to Sign Edge Khalil Mack in 2025?

Signing Mack in 2025 would likely significantly bolster the Eagles’ pass rush. Despite being in his mid-30s, Mack has maintained a high level of performance in recent years. He’s made back-to-back Pro Bowls and has amassed 30 sacks — and counting — over the last three years.

The Eagles’ defense, while strong, could benefit from an additional veteran presence to sustain and enhance their pass-rush. Mack’s experience and proven track record would provide a reliable edge presence, complementing the existing defensive lineup.

Moreover, Mack’s versatility extends beyond pass rushing. Throughout his career, he has been effective in run defense and pass coverage, making him a well-rounded edge. His ability to adapt to various defensive schemes would align well with the Eagles’ dynamic defensive strategies under coordinator Vic Fangio, who he played under when both were with the Chicago Bears during the 2018 season.

What Might a 1-Year Deal for Mack Look Like?

Mack is on a one-year, $19 million contract with the Chargers this season, but as Holder noted, he might be willing to take a lesser deal in order to play for a perennial contender. He also might be swayed at the thought of a reunion with Fangio, who had Mack in Defensive Player of the Year contention during their year together in Chicago.

Financially, given Mack’s age, the Eagles would need to negotiate a contract that balances fair compensation with salary cap considerations. This approach would allow the team to strengthen their roster without compromising financial flexibility for future signings or extensions. Spotrac has Mack projected to sign a two-year deal worth just under $15 million, but that feels a tad low.

Perhaps a one-year deal for $9-10 million would do it, but it’s possible Mack would request more.

There’s no doubt Mack’s leadership and experience would be invaluable assets as the Eagles aim to maintain their status as Super Bowl contenders. His presence could elevate the defense’s performance in high-stakes situations, contributing to the team’s overall success. It’ll be interesting to see if the team pursues him when free agency hits in 2025.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on December 16 that former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was in discussions with Sacramento State to become its next head coach.

“Sacramento State is in discussions to hire former Pro-Bowl QB Mike Vick as its new head coach, per sources,” Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Sacramento State plans to move up to FBS, is building a new stadium and has over $50 million in NIL. Sacramento State would build an experienced coaching staff around Vick that is inline with the new frontier of college football.”

Schefter added in a follow up post that Vick was also talking with Norfolk (Virginia) State about its head coach opening, which was first reported by The Virginian-Pilot’s David Teel and Michael Sauls.

Norfolk is approximately 30 miles from where Vick was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia.

From The Virginian-Pilot: “Vick said Norfolk State officials reached out to him and that he is intrigued by the potential opportunity of giving back to the Hampton Roads community that has long supported him. Vick lacks formal coaching experience … but said he would hire a seasoned staff that would assist him in transitioning to the position.”

Vick Revived NFL Career in Philadelphia

Vick was one of the most popular professional athletes in the world — not just the NFL – when his career came crashing down in 2007 when he was convicted on charges of running an interstate dogfighting ring and sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Vick’s downfall came just 3 years after he signed a 9-year, $130 million contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons, the team that drafted him No. 1 overall out of Virginia Tech in 2001. The deal made him the highest paid player in NFL history at the time.

After Vick served his time in prison, he was reinstated to play in the NFL following an indefinite suspension and signed a 2-year, $6.8 million contract with the Eagles.

By 2010, Vick had replaced both Donovan McNabb and then Kevin Kolb as starting quarterback for the Eagles and led the team to the NFL playoffs and made his fourth Pro Bowl. The Eagles rewarded him with a 6-year, $100 million contract in August 2011.

Vick played for the Eagles until 2013, then played 2 more seasons with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers primarily as a backup.

Sac State’s Most Famous Football Alum Will Surprise You

While Sacramento State has put its fair share of players into the NFL. Most notably, the Hornets produced current Dallas Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland, who led the NFL with 9 interceptions in 2023 and set the NFL single season record with 5 interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Bland is still not even close to the most famous football alum in school history. That would be former wide receiver and 2-time Academy Award nominated writer and director Ryan Coogler, who had 112 receptions for 1,213 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns from 2004 to 2007.

Over the last 11 years, Coogler has been the creative force behind both critically-acclaimed films like “Fruitvale Station” along with some of the biggest box-office hits in Hollywood history, like the comic-book adaptations “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” as well as the “Rocky” franchise reboot “Creed” in 2015.

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Sometimes, though, they push it too far. And when they seem like they’ve lost all grip on reality — and start creating false narratives — it’s totally fine to call them out.

Take, for example, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, who thought it was a good idea to call out his quarterback, Jalen Hurts, after the Eagles’ ninth consecutive win in Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers. Brown was upset about the passing game after he had just 4 receptions for 43 yards.

Brown was joined in his complaints by fellow star wide receiver DeVonta Smith in singling out Hurts, who it turned out has been playing with a broken finger on his left, non-throwing hand.

It was a controversy that didn’t need to happen — conversations and critiques aired out in public that only became a controversy because Brown and Smith decided to make it that way.

That’s why it was so surprising to hear Brown tell NBC Philadelphia’s John Clark that he and Hurts doing an awkward, Kid ‘n Play-inspired celebration dance after Brown’s touchdown in a 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15 was “… our moment to tell everybody to shut up.”

Brown had 8 receptions for 110 yards against the Steelers as the Eagles won their 10th consecutive game and improved to 12-2.

The utter disconnect between the events of the previous week and Brown’s comments after the win over the Steelers was called out by former ESPN host Trey Wingo, who wrote what Brown said was “Comical because if (Brown) had just shut up no one would have known about it,” on his official X account on December 15.

Brown Not Always the Greatest Teammate

While Brown is one of the NFL’s best receivers and one of the highest paid, all that talent and money hasn’t created a player who is always the best teammate.

Brown was a second round pick (No. 54 overall) by the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 NFL draft out of Ole Miss and forced a trade to the Eagles in April 2022.

“This wasn’t my fault,” Brown told ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I wanted to stay, but the deal (the Titans) offered was a low offer.”

The Eagles signed Brown to a 4-year, $100 million contract extension right after the trade in April 2022, then again to a 3-year, $96 million contract extension in April 2024 that keeps him in Philadelphia through the 2029 season, when Brown will be 32 years old.

Brown’s production in 2024 might be down — he has 56 receptions for 946 yards and 5 touchdowns through 14 games after back-to-back NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons with over 1,400 receiving yards in 2022 and 2023.

This isn’t the first time Brown’s discontent with Hurts has bubbled over over, either.

Eagles Are Better Team With Brown Taking Smaller Role

While Brown’s stats might be down, it’s hard to argue the Eagles aren’t a better team than they were in 2023 with him taking a co-starring role in the offense alongside running back Saquon Barkley, who has already set a franchise single-season record with 1,688 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

In 2023, the Eagles were 10-1 before going 1-5 over the final 6 games of the regular season and losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Round.

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Hurts told The Associated Press he’s playing with a broken finger on his left, non-throwing hand following a 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15 in which he went 25-of-32 passing for 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 45 yards and 1 touchdown.

It’s the 10th consecutive win for the Eagles, who improved to 12-2 and have clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs.

From the AP: “It’s broken, and it did impact my play,” Hurts said. ““I’ve known it’s been at the state it’s at all week, and I don’t really want to put too much more into it. I can say I don’t think it got any worse today. If it’s shattered, it’s shattered. It is what it is.”

Hurts apparently hurt his finger in a Week 14 win over the Carolina Panthers in which he was 14-of-21 passing for 108 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 59 yards and 1 touchdown.

Hurts was listed on the injury report leading up to the game against the Steelers as having an issue with a finger on his left hand.

It was the lowest passing total for Hurts since the regular-season finale in 2023 — a 27-10 loss to the New York Giants in which Hurts also dealt with a finger injury. In that game, he threw for just 55 yards and sat out the second half.

Eagles’ Passing Game Under Fire Within Locker Room

It should not go unsaid that Hurts just went through what was probably one of the toughest weeks of his professional career — in the middle of a winning streak — after wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown called out the passing game after the win over the Panthers.

That talk from the two star wideouts set off a media firestorm that ended with all 3 players having to address the issues with the media multiple times. Veteran linebacker Brandon Graham even had to issue an apology after he weighed in on the drama between his teammates.

Brown (8 receptions, 110 yards) and Smith (11 receptions, 109 yards) both had big games against the Steelers and both scored touchdowns. Brown and Hurts even did a poorly choreographed version of the iconic Kid ‘n Play dance from the 1990 movie “House Party” as a celebration following Brown’s touchdown.

Hurts One of NFL’s Most Durable Quarterbacks

Hurts has been incredibly durable throughout both his college and pro careers.

Since becoming the Eagles’ full time starter in 2021, Hurts has missed just 4 games — 2 games in 2021 with a high ankle sprain and 2 games in 2022 with a shoulder issue. He played all 17 regular-season games for the Eagles in 2023.

Were Hurts be forced to miss any time, his backup is former first-round pick in Kenny Pickett, who the Eagles obtained in a trade with the Steelers in March 2024, sending a pair of 2025 seventh round picks and a 2024 third round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Pickett and a 2024 fourth round pick.

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The Philadelphia Eagles won their 10th consecutive game with a 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and improved to 12-2 while simultaneously answering all the questions about the relationship between star quarterback Jalen Hurts and star wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith.

Hurts had his best game of the year, going 25-of-32 passing for 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 15 carries for 45 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. More importantly, the touchdown passes went to Brown (8 receptions, 110 yards) and Smith (11 receptions, 109 yards).

Brown and Smith were the players who jump-started last week’s controversy by complaining about the passing game following a Week 14 win over the Carolina Panthers.

The healing between the trio was never more pronounced than when Brown and Hurts met up to do the iconic Kid ‘n Play dance together after Brown’s touchdown in the first quarter.

“That was our moment to tell everybody to shut up,” Brown told NBC Philadelphia’s John Clark about the celebration.

Eagles’ Trio Among NFL’s Highest Paid Players

Hurts, Brown and Smith aren’t just among the best at their positions in the NFL — they’re also among the highest paid.

Hurts signed what was the biggest contract in NFL history at the time when he signed a 5-year, $255 million contract extension before the 2023 season.

Smith signed a 3-year, $75 million contract extension in April 2024 and Brown cashed in 10 days later with a 3-year, $96 million contract extension. Together, the trio represent a collective $425 million in contracts for the Eagles, who were recently valued at $8.3 billion.

Frustrations Boiled Over After Win Over Panthers

The frustrations in the Eagles’ locker room boiled over after the win over the Panthers — one in which Hurts went 14-of-21 passing for 108 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions while Smith (4 receptions, 37 yards, 1 touchdown) and Brown (4 receptions, 43 yards) were both afterthoughts.

When asked what was wrong with the offense following the game, Brown gave a 1-word answer: “Passing.” Smith said something along the same lines but later qualified it by saying it pertained only to that 1 game.

“There were a couple instances when Brown cleanly beat 1-on-1 coverage and was not targeted,” ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote on December 8. “He did not have a pass thrown to him until the waning moments of the first half. He tossed his helmet after coming off the field following a three-and-out in the second quarter.”

While Brown and Smith might be happy now, it still begs the question as to whether or not they can be happy for their team if things don’t go their way. The 2 have been in supporting roles all season while running back Saquon Barkley took a star turn and set the Eagles’ single-season rushing record in his first year with the franchise.

The Eagles now have just 3 games remaining and all 3 are against NFC East opponents, including a massive game in Week 16 on the road against the Washington Commanders followed by home games against the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants to close out the season.

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A large part of that success has been 6-foot-7, 363-pound guard Mekhi Becton, who they signed to a 1-year, $2.75 million “prove it” contract in April 2024 and have watched him dominate defenders all season.

Now, Becton is in line to get super duper paid in 2025 — likely by a team other than the Eagles.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks Becton could be a perfect fit for the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East in free agency.

“The Dolphins should be looking for ways to clear the money to target (Becton),” Ballentine wrote. “Massive and mauling guards have become en vogue for several teams from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. Miami could benefit from joining the movement with Becton.”

Becton’s career makeover in Philadelphia has come with a position change after he spent the first 4 seasons of his career at offensive tackle with the New York Jets.

With a new team and a new position, Becton is playing for a winner for the first time in his career — the Eagles are on a 9-game winning streak and have an 11-2 record headed into a Week 15 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Becton Spent First Part of Career in NFL Wasteland

The New York Jets selected Becton in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft out of Louisville only to send him into football purgatory for the next 4 seasons — a stretch in which the the Jets went 20-47 and had double-digit losses each year.

In that time, Becton missed 33 consecutive games — all but 1 game in 2021 and all of 2022 with major knee injuries. He returned in 2023 to start 16 games, but those injury issues let the Eagle get him at a bargain-basement price. He’s been stellar in 10 starts in 2024 with a 76.0 overall grade from PFF.

“And you just see (Becton), like sometimes it just looks like he’s just delivering like a two-handed shove,” Sheil Kapadia said on “The Ringer’s Philly Special” podcast on November 27. “And the guys are going flying from like one hashmark to the other hashmark … it really is incredible. When it hits for him, it really hits in a fun way that is, like, wildly entertaining when it’s a big man in a game of big men. When one big man is more powerful than the other big man, it really stands out.”

What Becton’s Next Contract Might Look Like

That Becton could once again command big money is a testament to how much things have turned around for him — remember the Jets declined the $13.565 million fifth year option on his rookie contract before the 2023 season.

At just 25 years old, Becton could be looking at a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid players at his position in the NFL. According to Over the Cap, the average annual salary of the top 10 highest paid right guards in the NFL was at $15 million in 2024.

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The Philadelphia native has been in the hip-hop game for over 20 years — he famously claimed he was a ghost writer for Lil Wayne on Cash Money Records in the early 2000s — and now co-hosts the uber-popular “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast, which boasts over 1.65 million subscribers on its YouTube channel.

Gillie recently weighed in with some hilarious comments on Eagles rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean on the Barstool Sports podcast “Bussin With The Boys” on December 11.

DeJean has been a huge part of the Eagles’ 11-2 record and 9-game winning streak headed into Week 15, with 8 starts in 13 games, with 40 tackles, 6 pass deflections and 1 fumble recovery.

DeJean is also white — something unusual for NFL cornerbacks. In 2024, Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss, DeJean’s teammate at the University of Iowa, became the first white cornerback to start an NFL regular-season game since Jason Sehorn in 2002.

DeJean and Moss are also regarded as two of the NFL’s best young cornerbacks.

“When you got a Caucasian cornerback, it means one thing,” Gillie told “BWTB” co-hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan. “He’s a bad (expletive). He’s a BMF. He doesn’t go to the cookout. He throws the cookout. He knows how to lean with it. He knows how to rock with it.

In the ultimate show of respect, Gillie used the most ubiquitous slang term in Philadelphia — “Jawn” — for a wordplay on DeJean’s last name.

“We’re from Philly, where we say ‘Jawn’ … we say Cooper DeJawn,” Gillie said. “Overseas, they might say Cooper DeJean. In Philly, he’s Cooper DeJawn.”

DeJean Called One of ‘Biggest Steals’ of 2024 NFL Draft

The 33rd Team’s Jeff Diamond put DeJean on his list of the “Biggest Steals” from the 2024 NFL draft.

“DeJean is the Eagles’ starting nickel corner and has contributed 30 tackles and five passes defensed to the team’s top-ranked defense,” Diamond wrote. “He was picked in the second round (No. 40 overall) as the fourth cornerback off the board. DeJean is one of the big contributors (along with first-round corner Quinyon Mitchell) to the massive improvement in Philadelphia’s pass defense that is ranked third after falling to 31st last season when they were a major cause of the team’s late-season collapse.”

From Body Slamming Derrick Henry to Dancing After Wins

DeJean, 6-foot and 198 pounds, went viral following a play he made in a Week 13 win against the Baltimore Ravens when he went head-to-head with 6-foot-3, 247-pound All-Pro running back Derrick Henry … and lifted Henry off his feet and slammed him into the turf midway through the fourth quarter.

Gillie is something of an athlete himself. In 2024, he was named MVP of the BIG3 Celebrity Basketball Game for the third consecutive year.

If you’re wondering whether Gillie is an actual Eagles fan, just watch this postgame video of Gillie dancing to the Too Short classic “Blow the Whistle” following their win over the Carolina Panthers on December 8. In the video, Gillie is in full Eagles gear — including a helmet and letter jacket — next to his custom-made Eagles ATV and alongside a friend dressed up as an actual Eagles mascot.

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Vying for the #1 seed in the NFC, just one game behind the 12-1 Lions, the Eagles are without question one of the most dominant teams in the NFL – presently the 3rd most favored team win the Super Bowl behind only Detroit and Kansas City.

Light Shed On Possible Troubles In Paradise On Eagles’ Offense

GettyBrandon Graham vs. San Francisco 49ers

Yet, after AJ Brown‘s public irritation with the state of the stalling passing game attack, legendary Pro Bowl defensive end, Brandon Graham, stated on Philly sports radio that there may be a recent rift between Jalen Hurts and his All-Pro teammate.

“I know 1 is trying and 11 could be better with how he responds to things. They were friends, but things have changed.”

Brandon Graham gives insight to the AJ Brown/Jalen Hurts drama: pic.twitter.com/RcouHPGK43

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) December 9, 2024

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Graham did later apologize for his candid, insider remarks, noting that his intention was not to reflect the pair’s relationship in a poor light, but the damage had, sadly, already been done.

On Wednesday, the Eagles’ franchise QB spoke to the media to clear up the comments made by Graham regarding his and Brown’s professional and personal relationship, per Eliot Shorr-Parks.

Jalen Hurts on his relationship with AJ Brown

“We’re good”

Says he has spoken to AJ since Brandon’s comments pic.twitter.com/k4pqipP0w6

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 11, 2024

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Who Is Really To Blame For The Eagles Low Passing Totals

GettyJalen Hurts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 playoffs

When asked about how the pair were, Hurts nonchalantly mentions that they are “all good”, before detailing the pair’s conversation since the public outing of their alleged falling out.

“We’ve spoken. I think in the end Brandon… knows he spoke out of place, he knows that…

This is about the team in the end, I think overall that’s where my focus is, I think thats where everyone’s focus is at heart, and trying to do his best for the team – and ultimately everyone cares about the team’s success.

So whenever something happens, whenever it is, I look at myself first, because everything starts and ends with me.”

Hurts acknowledges that he certainly has aspects of his game to work on, despite no doubt being a high-end, NFC Championship-winning quarterback.

But in some aspects, it does potentially feel like the reduction in the usage of the pass is more scheme-related that a blame lying on the shoulders of the former Alabama & Oklahoma star.

Hurts has completed the highest percentage of his passes in 2024 over any other season as a pro, eclipsing his former best season in 2022 (65.3) by nearly two percentage points. He also has the highest passer rating (102.4) and has thrown the fewest interceptions (5) since becoming the permanent full-time starter in 2021.

In addition Philadelphia, unsurprisingly, also leads the NFL in rushing yards/game, racking up a whopping 190.5 yards per bout in 2024, over 10 more than the Derrick Henry-led rushing juggernauts, the Baltimore Ravens (179.5)

So perhaps Brown should shift his attention away from Hurts and towards the offensive staff calling the plays – but at 11-2, it seems unlikely that any party (outside of Brown) is wanting to radically alter this winning formula.

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Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is in line for an estimated $664 million windfall after the NFL approved a ruling that allows owners to sell shares of the team to limited partners, with Lurie and the Eagles selling 8 percent of the team, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“Jeffrey Lurie and the Philadelphia Eagles received NFL approval for the sale of an 8% interest of the team to two family investors, per league source,” Schefter wrote on his official X account on December 11. “The sale was based on a valuation of the team up to $8.3 billion and Lurie maintains complete control of the team.”

The Eagles weren’t the only team to jump on the new ruling right out of the gate. Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross announced he was selling a “limited interest” in the team to Ares Management and Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula announced they were bringing in a group of 10 “limited partners” that includes former NBA All-Stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.

While the Eagles are one of the NFL’s most valuable franchises, they’ve also been one of the best in the last decade. Philadelphia won the first Super Bowl title in franchise history following the 2017 season, returned to the Super Bowl following the 2022 season and are currently 11-2 and on a 9-game winning streak.

Lurie’s Family Fortune Started at the Movies

Lurie is the heir to a family fortune that began when his grandfather, Philip Smith, founded the General Cinema movie theater chain in 1935, which became one of the largest drive-in movie theater chains in the country and at one point operated over 1,500 screens across the U.S.

Lurie actually failed in two previous attempts to buy NFL franchises when Robert Kraft beat him to buy the New England Patriots, and Stan Kroenke beat him out to buy Los Angeles Rams before finally spending $185 million to buy the Eagles in 1994.

Along with being one of the NFL’s best owners, Lurie is also one of the great documentary film producers of all time. He’s won three Academy Awards for documentaries since 2011, including “Summer of Soul” for Best Documentary Feature in 2022 — the movie Chris Rock was presenting the award for when Philadelphia native Will Smith walked on stage and slapped him.

Not Afraid to Spend Big Money on Lineup

One of the reasons Lurie is so well respected in NFL ownership and player circles is his willingness to spend big on his team.

We don’t need to look any further than the Eagles’ current offensive lineup to see examples. Philadelphia made quarterback Jalen Hurts the highest paid player in NFL history when they signed him to a 5-year, $255 million contract extension in March 2023.

The Eagles also paid $161 million for a pair of wide receivers in A.J. Brown (3 years, $96 million) and DeVonta Smith (3 years, $75 million).

The best money Lurie has spent in recent years might end up being a deal that put a nail in the coffin of an NFC East rival — signing running back Saquon Barkley away from the New York Giants on a 3-year, $37.75 million contract in March 2024.

Barkley responded by setting the Eagles’ single-season record with 1,623 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns through 13 games.

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Hurts has been taking shrapnel like he was running through a minefield lately, despite the Philadelphia Eagles on a 9-game winning streak and sitting at 11-2 and still in contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

The latest grenades launched at Hurts came from The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz, who said Hurts was “closer to bottom 10” as an NFL quarterback on an episode of “The Ringer NFL Show” on December 11.

“(Hurts) is far worse than the quarterback we saw in 2022,” Ruiz said. “And I think that’s the biggest concern that it’s not like his play has regressed as things have regressed around him. I think you could kind of make the argument that things might be better around him … He’s just not making the throws and I don’t know how to quantify that.

“And it’s getting hard to rank him now. Because if I say, like, oh, he’s a bottom 10 quarterback, like that’s insane. We’ve seen him go to a Super Bowl. We’ve seen him play very well. We’ve seen him be on an All-Pro team. But I think he’s closer to bottom 10 than he is to top 10.”

Teammates Complain Despite 9-Game Winning Streak

The latest round of criticism of Hurts comes from a pair of highly-paid and disgruntled wide receivers in DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, who both took shots at Hurts following a 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 14.

Hurts was 14-of-21 passing for 108 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions against the Panthers — his sixth game this season with under 200 passing yards. It’s also the second consecutive game in which Hurts has thrown for under 125 passing yards after he threw for 118 yards in a win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13.

“(Hurts) is on track to record just over 3400 passing yards, his worst total since his first full year as a starter back in 2021,” Heavy’s Daniel Arwas wrote on December 10. “And this total may well end up lower, given the increasingly low passing totals of the most recent games against the Panthers, Ravens and Rams.”

Hurts has a record of 44-16 since taking over as the Eagles’ full time starter in 2021, including a 36-9 record over the last 3 seasons. He’s also a 2-time Pro Bowler and was an NFL All-Pro selection in 2022, when he led the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII.

Eagles Have Changed Offense to Suit Barkley in 2024

If you hear criticism of Hurts, you can bet that every time it’s going to go back to the 5-year, $255 million contract extension with $180 million in guaranteed money he signed in March 2023.

What needs to be pointed out is that neither Hurts, Smith or Brown is the focal point of the Eagles offense in 2024 — something that only Hurts seems to comprehend so far.

The focal point of the offense is running back Saquon Barkley, who has a real chance to become the first NFL MVP at his position since Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in 2012.

Barkley has already set a franchise single-season record with 1,623 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns through 13 games and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry — he also has a chance to break the NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards set by Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson in 1984.

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Currently riding a 9-game winning streak, having not lost a game since late September, the Eagles are proving to be one of the foremost Super Bowl contenders in the NFC, alongside the 12-1 Detroit Lions.

An emboldened Vic Fangio-led defense has turned into one of the league’s best, with rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell currently playing at a top-5 level in the NFL, alongside a defiant rushing offense headed by likely Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon Barkley, has turned the Eagles into one of the most dangerous teams in the entire league.

Philadelphia Eagles Struggling To Get Jalen Hurts Going Through The Air

GettyAJ Brown vs. New York Giants

However, the passing offense under quarterback Jalen Hurts and new offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore – formerly of the rival Dallas Cowboys – has started to falter over the past few games.

Hurts has not managed 200 passing yards in any of his last 3 games, and has not managed a 300-yard game since September 22nd at the New Orleans Saints.

Whilst some of this can be attributed to the Eagles’ dynamic rushing attack, headed by both Barkley and the dual-threat nature of Hurts, it is still concerning relative his prior years’ numbers:

He is on track to record just over 3400 passing yards, his worst total since his first full year as a starter back in 2021. And this total may well end up lower, given the increasingly low passing totals of the most recent games against the Panthers, Ravens and Rams.

Star wideout, AJ Brown, gave a very concise answer as to the root of the offensive’s issues, “passing”, as he too is on pace to record his worst receiving total since 2021.

Kellen Moore Proposes Solution To Passing Woes

On Tuesday, Moore spoke to the media in response to these recent problems in the passing game. The essence of his plan to fix said “broken” passing offense, is to increase Brown’s involvement – or indeed his likelihood of involvement, per team transcript, via Pro Football Talk.

“I’m going to focus more on trying to find different ways of increasing the likelihood of the ball going to him. Ultimately the quarterback has to play based on the reaction of the defense and trust that there’s progressions within a play.

For us we’re always going to evaluate how we can get it to him sooner and create those opportunities. It’s really about probability. Not every play is going to be able to say 100 percent of the time it’s going to one player in particular, but how can we improve our opportunities there?”

Generally speaking, getting the ball to your most dynamic playmaker is a good start when looking at improving the passing game. But this may not affect the long term success of the offense through the air, as Jalen Hurts has not demonstrated consistent top-tier ability as a thrower since his Super Bowl runner-up season with former offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen.

Perhaps another man is needed to scheme open players for the Eagles’ $255 million man, or indeed Philadelphia should keep running the same run-driven formula that has helped them to 9 straight wins this season – and a potential #1 seed in the conference.

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Kelce had been under investigation by Penn State University Police and Public Safety after he was recorded on video grabbing a man’s cell phone and slamming it to the ground after the man was filming Kelce and asked him “Kelce, how does it feel that your brother is a (homophobic slur) for dating Taylor Swift?”

Kelce responded by slamming the fan’s phone to the ground and shouting the homophobic slur back at him.

“The individual in the video footage circulating on social media has not been identified, and no one has come forward to University Police with a related complaint about damage to personal property,” the PSU Police said in a statement to The Athletic.

Kelce was at Penn State for the Beavers’ game against Ohio State and to participate in ESPN’s College GameDay.

“Penn State University Police and Public Safety later opened an investigation into the incident after an officer ‘observed a visitor damaging personal property’ at an intersection outside the stadium, according to PSU police’s daily crime log,” West wrote.

Kelce addressed the incident on “Monday Night Countdown” on November 4.

“In a heated moment, I chose to greet hate with hate, and I don’t think that’s a productive thing,” Kelce said. “I really don’t. I don’t think it leads to discourse and (I don’t think) it’s the right way to go about things. In that moment, I fell down to a level that I shouldn’t have.

“The bottom line is, I want to live my life — I try to live my life — by the ‘golden rule.’ That’s what I’ve always been taught. I try to treat people with common decency, respect and I’m going to keep doing that moving forward even though I fell short this week.”

Kelce Family’s Rise to Worldwide Fame Since Super Bowl LVII

Since becoming the first brothers to play against each other in Super Bowl LVII following the 2022 season, Jason Kelce and younger brother and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce have seen their fame shoot into the stratosphere in large part due to Travis Kelce’s relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift after the 2 began dating in July 2023.

The brothers have created a media and entertainment empire that now includes the “New Heights” podcast hosted by them, which sold its rights to Amazon’s Wondery for a reported $100 million in August 2024, an Amazon Prime documentary on Jason Kelce and TV hosting and acting roles for Travis Kelce, including FX’s “Grotesquerie” and Amazon Prime’s “Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?”

Jason Kelce One of NFL’s All-Time Greatest Offensive Linemen

Jason Kelce retired after 13 seasons in 2023 and will almost certainly be a first ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as soon as he’s eligible.

Kelce played his entire career with the Eagles after being drafted in the sixth round (No. 191 overall) of the 2011 NFL draft out of Cincinnati. He went on to become a 6-time NFL All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler and helped lead the Eagles to the first Super Bowl title in franchise history following the 2017 season.

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The latest evidence of this was veteran edge rusher and NFL All-Pro Brandon Graham having to walk back comments he made on the tension between wide receiver A.J. Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts after Brown lashed out following a 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 14 in which Hurts threw for just 108 yards.

Graham, who is out for the season with a torn triceps tendon, made comments about the relationship between Brown and Hurts during a weekly appearance on Monday night on “The Brandon Graham Show” on SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia.

“The person that’s complaining needs to be accountable,” Graham said. “I don’t know the whole story, but I know that (Hurts) is trying and (Brown) could be a little better with how he responds to things. They were friends before this, but things have changed, and I understand that because life happens. But it’s the business side, that we have to make sure the personal doesn’t get in the way of the business.”

Graham ended up apologizing twice for his comments publicly, first to ESPN’s Tim McManus.

“I made a mistake and I assumed that it was something that it wasn’t,” Graham told McManus. “I just want to win so bad that I don’t just want to use the media when we need to talk about something and we can fix the problem ourselves. I didn’t add to it in a good light, so that’s my bad. I just assumed, and it made me out to look even worse because I had it all wrong and now people are going to run with that part. I really just want to win, man, and I want brothers to be able to just hash it out.”

Graham, a Super Bowl champion and former NFL All-Pro, is in his 15th season with the Eagles and apologized again on “The Morning Show With Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie” on 94WIP on Tuesday morning.

“I made the assumption,” Graham said on Tuesday. “I didn’t know all the details and I still don’t … Everything that I said, I didn’t want (Brown) to do, I did too (airing it out publicly to the media). All of us just want to win.”

Brown Criticized For Taking Beef With Hurts Public

While Brown’s criticism may have been fair, it’s hard to comprehend why his concerns weren’t raised behind closed doors and not aired out in the media.

“It comes off as being selfish,” Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe said on “The Nightcap” podcast on Monday. “And I don’t think that (Brown) is. I think he’s a competitor. He wants to contribute. I think he realizes, ‘In order for us to get to where we need to be, I’m going to have to catch more than three or four balls.'”

Brown, Hurts 2 of NFL’s Highest Paid Players

One might also think people being paid the exorbitant amount of money Brown and Hurts are would be able to handle any conflicts in private for the sake of team chemistry.

Brown and Hurts are playing on contracts currently valued at a combined $351 million. Hurts signed a 5-year, $255 million contract extension in April 2023 and Hurts signed a 3-year, $96 million contract extension in April 2024.

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Mainly, they’re talking about how the passing game isn’t work and how frustrated that’s made their pair of superstar wide receivers in DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown — a duo with contracts worth $171 million.

Smith and Brown lashed out after the Eagles mustered just 108 passing yards in a 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, and much of that agita can be traced to the fact the Eagles don’t have a third wide receiver to take pressure off of them.

It’s a weakness Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder thinks the franchise won’t be able to fix until the 2025 NFL draft, where he thinks they should go after record-setting Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson in the mid or later rounds.

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Now having all but secured the NFC East title – an accolade they can wrap up this coming weekend if they move past the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders fail to beat the New Orleans Saints – the Eagles are turning their eyes towards a bigger prize: the #1 seed in the NFC.

Currently held by the Detroit Lions, standing at an impressive 12-1, the first round bye into the Divisional round of the playoffs will be particularly helpful this year, as a surprisingly competitive NFC faces tough competition across the entire conference.

How Far Can The Philadelphia Eagles Go In 2024?

GettyPhiladelphia Eagles defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, vs. the Carolina Panthers

Yet, it feels like with the rebounding defense under the stewardship of former Broncos head coach and defensive whiz, Vic Fangio, and a devastating rushing offense lead by Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner, Saquon Barkley; the Eagles could have a strong chance at topping the conference come the end of the regular season – and making a deep run into the postseason.

The one thing that has held the Eagles back, outside of an occasionally slightly inconsistent passing attack via quarterback, Jalen Hurts, is the kicking game.

Kicking The Biggest Concern For Otherwise Foolproof Eagles

GettyJake Elliot

Surprising to many – although undoubtedly not fantasy football players – Jake Elliot is having the worst season of his pro career. And unlike fellow struggling placekicker, Justin Tucker – who turned 35 last month – Elliot at 29 should be just entering his prime kicking years.

Elliot has caught a mega case of the “yips”: he is 0-5 on field goals greater than 50 yards, and his 75% on all FGs ranks 34th this year. Of kickers who have attempted at least 20 field goals this year, only 4 have a worse accuracy percentage – and all of them have made at least 1 50 yarder.

Being on such a complete team, Elliot is now the #1 cause for concern amongst Eagles fans, particularly with the high-pressure playoffs soon to be upon us.

Yet, Philadelphia head coach, Nick Sirianni, issued a surprisingly calm, wholehearted endorsement of the veteran kicker, per Eagles writer Brooks Kubena.

Nick Sirianni: “I’ve got a lot of confidence in Jake Elliott.”

He says again that the wind was “a lot more than you can tell” yesterday on the 55-yard attempt Sirianni passed on.

“Confidence is very high in Jake because I’ve seen who he can be.”

— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) December 9, 2024

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Sirianni’s confidence is not necessarily misplaced; Jake Elliot has been easily one of the best kickers in the league for nearly a decade, since being drafted in the 5th round by the Eagles in 2017.

And whilst veteran kickers can have off spells and bad times – think Mason Crosby’s tough 2021 season for the Green Bay Packers that preceded a much improved 2022 year – it feels difficult to have true faith in a player who is having such continual trouble making what are normally manageable kicks.

Even with the head coach’s backing; if Elliot’s kicking continues to degenerate before our eyes, it may not be long before a veteran pair of legs is bought in for the playoffs.

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Goedert has still put up numbers most NFL tight ends would love to have, with 38 receptions for 441 yards and 2 touchdowns before he was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on December 7.

While Goedert’s injury designation would allow him to return for the regular-season finale against the New York Giants in Week 18, there’s no guarantee he’ll be healed up by that time and no guarantee he’ll be ready for the playoffs.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder thinks a possible fill-in for Goedert could come in the former of former Washington Commanders tight end and free agent Logan Thomas.

“The Eagles placed Dallas Goedert on injured reserve this week, leaving the offense thin at tight end,” Holder wrote. “While he could return in time for the playoffs, it would be smart to add a veteran tight end like Thomas to the practice squad just in case. That way he can learn and get comfortable in the offense in case of an emergency heading into the postseason.”

Goedert Also One of NFL’s Highest Paid Tight Ends

Whatever level his production might be at this season, Goedert is one of the NFL’s highest paid tight ends after signing a 4-year, $57 million contract extension with the Eagles in November 2021.

Goedert is still due  $14.25 million in 2025 in the final season of his contract, but the Eagles might want to look to replace him sooner than later. When his stint on injured reserve ends he will have missed 7 games in 2024 and 25 games due to injuries over the last 5 seasons.

Thomas Played Like Elite NFL Tight End in 2023

Thomas signed with the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason and was a surprise release by the team on Aug. 27 despite having one of the best seasons of his decade-long NFL career in 2023 with the Washington Commanders. Thomas was one of the few bright spots for the team as it struggled to a 4-13 record, finishing the season with 55 receptions, 496 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

That put Thomas 19th in the NFL in receiving among tight ends — Goedert had 59 receptions for 592 yards and 3 touchdowns with the benefits of a Pro Bowl quarterback in Jalen Hurts and an NFL All-Pro wide receiver in A.J. Brown.

Thomas, 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round (No. 120 overall) of the 2014 NFL draft as a quarterback and played one season there before he was released. He spent 2015 as a backup quarterback on the Miami Dolphins, then spent part of 2016 as a quarterback on the practice squad for the New York Giants before switching positions to tight end and spending the last part of 2016 on the practice squad with the Detroit Lions.

He spent 2017 and 2018 with the Buffalo Bills and 2019 back with the Lions before having a breakout season with Washington in 2020, starting 15 games while putting up career highs for receptions (72), receiving yards (670) and touchdowns (6) as the franchise made the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Washington rewarded Thomas with a 3-year, $24 million contract extension following his breakout season in 2020, but he played in only 6 games in 2021 due to injuries.

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