NFL Network analyst Michael Robinson thinks there’s more to the story behind Jalen Hurts’ injury.
During an appearance on “NFL Gameday Kickoff” on Thursday, Robinson, a former Pro Bowl fullback, theorized that the Eagles could be using Hurts’ injury as a means to eventually move on from the quarterback.
“They’re incentivized to go into the draft and maybe look for a quarterback,” Robinson said, mentioning Philadelphia’s slew of 2027-28 draft picks acquired in recent trades.
Despite Hurts’ stellar seven-year tenure with the Eagles, he hasn’t performed well to start the season under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, and with his contract ending after the 2028 campaign, Robinson speculated that Philadelphia could be planning to move on from the three-time Pro Bowl QB.
“It looked like they were trying to pin the outcome of this season on Jalen Hurts just so that they could have an excuse later on to move on from Jalen Hurts,” Robinson continued. “And, again, I’m not saying I know nothing, guys. But if I’m just playing devil’s advocate here, and I’m thinking that way, if I’m Jalen Hurts — or anybody in Jalen Hurts’ camp — I’m saying, ‘Well if everybody’s hurt, I’m hurt, too.’
“To me, it looked like Jalen is kind of getting himself out of the fray so that this lost season … he’s pulling himself out so that this doesn’t look like it’s on me.”
Hurts, 28, was sidelined this week while dealing with a superficial blood clot in his calf. Philadelphia was aware of the injury since it was suffered during the Eagles’ 24-20 loss to the Rams on Oct. 4.
The Eagles have yet to provide a timetable on Hurts’ return, and no one around the organization has indicated anything suspect surrounding the QB’s injury.
Medical experts said that the blood clot could sideline Hurts for at least 45 days, depending on the course of treatment going forward.
“A lot of times, what we’re doing is kind of following people closely over time,” Dr. Jordan Schaefer, a hematologist at the University of Michigan Health System and associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, told USA Today Sports of potential treatment options.
“It’s not like a one-time visit and then you’re done. It’s often reassessment in how you’re feeling and a physical of how the leg looks. Is that swelling and redness and exam getting better?”
The Eagles are likely to start Tanner McKee in Hurts’ absence, while rookie Cole Payton should slot into the No. 2 role. However, Philadelphia reportedly signed Joe Milton off the Cowboys’ practice squad on Friday, adding another signal-caller to the room.
