Jalen Hurts‘ shoulder injury will lead to the MVP candidate missing at least one game. Nick Sirianni said Thursday the plan is for the Eagles to start backup Gardner Minshew against the Cowboys.
The former Jaguars starter whom the Eagles acquired via trade last year, Minshew has made two starts with Philadelphia. Sirianni’s decision will wrap a regular season that will have featured two Cowboys-Eagles games involving backup quarterbacks. Cooper Rush faced Hurts in October, as Dak Prescott rehabbed his thumb injury.
While the Eagles are going week to week with Hurts, it is possible he either misses multiple games or does not return until the playoffs. During a Week 15 game in which Hurts matched his season-high with 17 carries, he suffered a shoulder sprain in the third quarter. Hurts finished the game, and it is believed he could play through this were Philly’s Christmas Eve Dallas rematch a must-win game. But the Eagles hold a three-game lead on the Cowboys in the NFC East and are essentially three up in the home-field advantage race, thanks to an early-season win over the 11-3 Vikings, so Hurts-related caution can take place.
This will become a pivotal game for Minshew, who is on track for free agency in March. The former Jags sixth-round pick has been a quality backup with the Eagles, after flashing frequently on struggling Jacksonville teams during his first two seasons. Although Urban Meyer continued to give Minshew first-team reps for much of the 2021 offseason, Trevor Lawrence‘s expected ascent coming to pass led to a Minshew trade. The Eagles acquired the Washington State product for a conditional draft choice last year. It became a sixth-rounder after Minshew did not play at least 50% of Philly’s offensive snaps in three games last season.
Minshew, 26, did clear the 50% barrier in two games last season — both starts. He filled in for Hurts, who was battling an ankle injury, against the Jets and started with a cast of Eagles backups against the Cowboys in Week 18. When playing with Philly starters in New Jersey, Minshew completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. That win helped an Eagles team that was not viewed especially highly entering last season into the playoffs.
After replacing an injured Nick Foles as a rookie in 2019, Minshew took over the Jags job for good later that season. In 14 games (12 starts) in 2019, the former Mike Leach pupil surprised most by throwing 21 touchdown passes compared to six interceptions. QBR rated Minshew in the bottom five that year, however, and the Jags went 1-7 in his 2020 starts en route to securing the following year’s No. 1 overall pick.
A multigame audition this season, backed by a well-built Eagles roster, could put Minshew on the radar to be a potential bridge option or at least up his value as a backup on the market. The Eagles host the Saints and Giants to close the season.
Probably the right move, but still sucks.
Philly needs only 1 win to clinch the division and NFC #1 seed. Should they not do it in Dallas they can do it in the Linc against New Orleans or the Giants.
Think like a grown-up, not like a crybaby.
LOL okay. I know that and I think they will either way, I just don’t think Minshew is that good.
Minshew was average and entertaining on a terrible team. Excited to see what he can do with a stacked one.
Minshew was pretty good on a terrible team with zero supporting cast around him.
@ChuckyNJ
Heed your own advice. Your comment was extraordinarily condescending
Extraordinarily condescending or ordinarily New Jersey-esque?
Agreed. Would’ve liked to shut them up with a full squad on both sides. However, after a victory, Dallas has no more excuses. We made Lawrence look like a fool after he ran his mouth and Micah gets a full game of Lane.
Opening the door for Vikings run of misconception success.
I am not going to lie, I am extremely excited to see what Minshew can do. Granted, he will be working from only a few days’ preparation as the starter, but this game (and maybe the next) will answer a lot of questions about his value. I am not predicting great or awful results, but I do want to see what he can do.
Minshew should be starting somewhere
Eagles going to beat Dallas with their backup. Dallas’ excuse was the Eagles beat Rush.
Minshew is not a good fit for the Eagles “offense” – as he is not an option runner and the Eagles receivers need that kind of juice to get open, as they have no idea how to run real routes.
AJ Brown isn’t a good route runner? Seriously?
Run Miles Run!