With the NFL regular season coming to a close, the Philadelphia Eagles are without their third quarterback.
Starter Jalen Hurts remained in concussion protocol and did not start Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Then in the third quarter, backup Kenny Pickett left the game after being shot in the ribs.
The injury occurred on a pass play in the red zone. Pickett threw the ball into the end zone and took a shot from Micah Parsons that left him doubled over in pain.
Pickett’s touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith was nullified by a holding penalty, and third-string quarterback Tanner McKee took over for a third-down handoff before the Eagles kicked a field goal.
He Eagles list Pickett as questionable to return with a rib injury. Philadelphia, which had already clinched a playoff berth, held a 24-7 lead over the Cowboys at the time of Pickett’s injury.
McKee remained in the game for the next series while Pickett went to the locker room to evaluate his injury. McKee, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft, had never thrown an NFL pass before Sunday.
On his first full possession leading the Eagles offense, he threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to AJ Brown to extend Philadelphia’s lead to 34-7.
Pickett then returned to the sideline without his pads or helmet, his day seemingly over as Philadelphia held a 27-point lead.