Jalen Hurts has been downgraded to questionable for Monday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks because of an illness that kept him out of Saturday’s practice and away from the team, according to a league source. ESPN first reported the news.
Hurts will not fly on the team charter and will travel separately from the rest of the team to try to keep from spreading his illness.
If Hurts cannot play, Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback. Hurts has played through illness before — he was sick Week 3 against Tampa Bay — but this is the first time with the Eagles that his status has been in question because of an illness.
The Eagles-Seahawks game was originally scheduled to play on Sunday. Considering Hurts’ worsening condition, the NFL’s first time flexing a game from Sunday to Monday might end up being what keeps the Eagles’ franchise quarterback in the lineup.
Darius Slay undergoes knee scope
Darius Slay underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week and is out for Monday’s game. The surgery is not expected to end Slay’s season and was performed this week to get Slay healthy in time for later this season and the postseason. Slay has been dealing with a lingering knee injury since October. The Eagles did not place him on injured reserve.
Kelee Ringo, the Eagles’ fourth-round pick, could make his first career start in Slay’s place. Ringo saw increased defensive action against Dallas last week (with mixed results) and has been impressing behind the scenes. This is also a meaningful game for Ringo because he’s from the Seattle area and grew up attending Seahawks games and practices. Ringo planned to have family and friends in the stands this week.
The Eagles will also play without starting right guard Cam Jurgens (pectoral) and linebacker Zach Cunningham (knee). Sua Opeta took the first-team work in Jurgens’ place at the portion of practice open to reporters and Shaq Leonard would step in for Cunningham. Safety Reed Blankenship will play after suffering a concussion last week.
‘Big Dom’ banned from sideline
The NFL has banned Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro from the team’s sideline for the remainder of the regular season, according to a league source. The Associated Press first reported the news.
DiSandro, who is also a senior advisor to general manager Howie Roseman, was involved in a sideline incident with 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw two weeks ago. The NFL kept DiSandro from the sideline last week in Dallas, and the ban is now extended for the final four weeks.
DiSandro, who has been with the organization since 1999 and is a revered figure by players and coaches, will still be able to fulfill his other normal security duties. His day-to-day tasks are unchanged, and he will continue to participate and oversee the security meetings for gameday. The ban is strictly for the sideline.
Two Eagles fined
Blankenship was fined $4,843 for unnecessary roughness in the second quarter against Dallas. (The play occurred at the 11:56 mark in the quarter, when Blankenship sustained the concussion). Cornerback Eli Ricks was fined $4,185 for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter. (The play occurred at the 12:12 mark in the quarter.)
Neither player was penalized.
