Jalen Hurts was on the sideline, furious, watching his backup throw an interception in the end zone. He had been cleared to return. The medical tent just would not let him out in time.
That was the scene on Monday Night Football in Chicago, where the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback took a vicious late hit, was forced into concussion protocol, and then watched helplessly as his team’s promising drive evaporated without him. The Eagles went on to lose 27-7, and the sequence became a microcosm of everything that has gone wrong for Philadelphia this season.
Here’s what actually happened to Jalen Hurts on that chaotic night in Chicago.
The Hit That Changed Everything
Midway through the second quarter, with the Eagles trailing 7-0, Hurts scrambled toward the sideline and was hit late by Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson. He stayed down on the turf for several seconds before getting up on his own power.
The NFL’s concussion spotters in New York immediately called down to the officials. Hurts was pulled from the game and sent to the blue medical tent for evaluation, despite appearing to want to stay in.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was livid. Cameras caught him screaming at Jackson after the hit, a moment that captured how heated the night had become.
The Delay That Cost the Eagles
What happened next was the real damage.
The Eagles had just driven 95 yards and had first-and-goal at the Chicago 1-yard line. With Hurts in the tent, backup Andy Dalton came in cold. He handed off to Saquon Barkley twice, then on third-and-goal from the 2, Dalton dropped back and threw an interception in the end zone.
According to ESPN’s broadcast, there was a delay in the concussion evaluation process that kept Hurts in the tent longer than expected. By the time he was officially cleared, Dalton had already thrown the pick.
Hurts emerged from the tent visibly enraged, yelling at the medical staff. Troy Aikman, calling the game, said it was “as angry as I’ve ever seen Jalen Hurts.”
Hurts Was Cleared, Just Too Late
The NFL’s concussion protocol requires an independent evaluation before a player can return. Hurts was evaluated and cleared, but the timing worked against him.
“I think practically, emotionally, and competitively, I was in the right place to go out there and compete,” Hurts said after the game. “So it’s a situation that hopefully we can learn from. I don’t really draw those protocols up.”
According to sideline reporter Lisa Salters, Hurts had already been evaluated by the red hat, but by the time the official clearance came through, Dalton had already thrown the interception.
The Aftermath
Hurts returned for the Eagles’ next drive and led them down the field for a touchdown just before halftime, cutting the Bears’ lead to 10-7. But the second half was a disaster.
The Eagles committed three turnovers, 10 penalties, and never forced a Bears turnover. Hurts threw an interception on fourth down in the third quarter as Philadelphia tried to claw back. By then, the game was already slipping away.
“You turn the ball over, you’re gonna get your butt whooped,” wide receiver DeVonta Smith said afterward.
Hurts finished the night having shown, once again, how much the Eagles depend on him. In the four plays he missed, the team’s entire scoring opportunity collapsed. It was a stark reminder of how thin the margin is when the quarterback isn’t on the field.
A Familiar Concern
This isn’t the first time Hurts has dealt with a concussion scare. In 2024, he missed nearly three games after suffering a concussion against the Washington Commanders, remaining in protocol for the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Eagles have veteran Andy Dalton as their backup, with Tanner McKee inactive as the emergency third quarterback. Dalton’s interception on Monday night will only intensify questions about whether Philadelphia has adequate insurance behind Hurts.
The Bottom Line
Jalen Hurts was hit late, sent to the medical tent, and cleared to return. But the process took too long, and his replacement threw the interception that swung the game.
Hurts was furious. Sirianni was furious. And the Eagles lost by 20 points.
The quarterback is healthy. The concussion scare passed. But the damage to Philadelphia’s season, and the questions about how the team handles these situations, is still unfolding.
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