January 17, 2023
Kate Frese/For PhillyVoice
PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 19: A photo from the Philadelphia Eagles game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field on September 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
There are a few key guys who have been fighting through injuries to be ready to play Saturday night. What's the latest on Jalen Hurts, Lane Johnson, Josh Sweat and Avonte Maddox?
Coach Sirianni gives updates on Avonte Maddox, Jalen Hurts, and Lane Johnson. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/6kJ3XATE99
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 17, 2023
We'll find out even more after the Eagles release their Tuesday practice report, but until then here's what we know:
We'll start with QB1, who was reportedly extremely sore after helping the Birds clinch a first-round bye back on January 8. He's rested his shoulder since then and has gotten practice time in — both with a football and whipping around a towel.
So how is he feeling four days away from his second-ever postseason start?
Head coach Nick Sirianni says QB Jalen Hurts is a “full go” for practice today. No sense that he is being held back for anything. That’s a great prospect for Saturday night!#FlyEaglesFly
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) January 17, 2023
Nick Sirianni told reporters that Hurts' injured shoulder is feeling better, which makes sense. Hurts was clearly not 100% in the Week 18 finale against the Giants and the team was not calling plays as they would have had their quarterback been fully healthy.
It will be interesting to see if the design runs return against the Giants this time.
For what it's worth, the man himself said he was going to be on the field all week getting ready.
Jalen Hurts said he is “feeling good.”
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) January 17, 2023
He’ll practice today, Nick Sirianni said. pic.twitter.com/a6Kv3I32u4
Johnson is the only Eagle who could battle Hurts for "most important player" on the team, and he's come out himself saying he is playing no matter what. The All-Pro has a torn adductor in his groin and is pushing off surgery until the offseason.
“There are a few times when you’re on a team that you know has a chance to win it all,” Johnson said Friday. “I could see that throughout the season. The timing of the injury wasn’t great, but my whole reason for coming back was because I feel like we have a chance to be something special. That’s my reason.”
The Eagles' 11-sack pass rusher gave everyone a scare when he was seemingly seriously injured at The Linc a few weeks ago and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Sweat has been back at the NovaCare Complex since their Week 18 win and has said he is full go for the postseason.
"Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I'll be out there," he told the Eagles' website. "Shoot, I feel like I can go now, but they're just trying to work me back into it a little slower. But I feel great. I'll definitely be out there."
Maddox is the only one of the four who could go either way. He's been out a few weeks with a toe injury that has kept him off the practice field. He's going to do whatever he can to try and play it seems, but Sirianni was ambiguous when asked about his nickel corner's status.
Nick Sirianni didn’t offer up much on CB Avonte Maddox’s availability for this week:
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 17, 2023
“We’ll see.”#Eagles will issue a practice report based on an estimation after today’s walkthrough.
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