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Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has made it through the concussion protocol, coach Nick Sirianni said Friday, clearing him to play against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Hurts returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday and moved to a full participant Thursday. Sirianni has been pleased with what he has seen out Hurts this week, echoing the sentiments of left tackle Jordan Mailata, who said the quarterback “looked sharp” in practice.
Hurts sustained a concussion in the first quarter against the Washington Commanders on Dec. 22 and sat out the Eagles’ final two games of the regular season.
Hurts, who also played late in the season with a broken finger on his non-throwing hand, had 2,903 passing yards this season with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw only one interception after the NFC East champion Eagles returned from their Week 5 bye. Thanks to the tush push, Hurts has 14 rushing touchdowns this season.
“We’re always careful with him,” Sirianni said. “He’s our quarterback, so we always want to be careful with him. We always think about his health first and foremost because you never want him not to be on the field. You always want Jalen Hurts on the field. You always feel better when Jalen Hurts is on the field. It’s always part of our process and our plan to make sure that when he does carry the football on planned runs that we try to protect him.”
Wide receiver A.J. Brown, who had 67 catches for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season, sat out practice Thursday with a knee issue and for rest. Sirianni said he had no concerns that Hurts’ production would suffer from the layoff or that he wouldn’t easily find an instant connection again with Brown.
“They’ve got a lot of reps together prior to the last couple of weeks,” Sirianni said. “A lot, a lot of reps together. So that’s not a concern of mine. I just feel like we’re in a good spot going into this game.”
Brown wasn’t the only wide receiver to miss time this week. DeVonta Smith sat out of Friday’s practice with back tightness. The Eagles, though, still expect him to play against the Packers.
Hurts was 20-of-34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in leading the Eagles to a 34-29 victory over the Packers in the season opener in Brazil.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.