The Eagles signed veteran quarterback Ian Book to their practice squad Thursday with Jalen Hurts still in concussion protocol:
Practice Squad: We have signed QB Ian Book and RB Lew Nichols and we have released DB Tariq Castro-Fields. pic.twitter.com/FQNtz8s7JA
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 26, 2024
Book, 26, was a fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints out of Notre Dame in 2021. He completed 12 of 20 pass attempts and threw two interceptions in one start in his rookie year, his only NFL game action to this point. Book was the Eagles third-string quarterback in 2022, and has since had brief stints in the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs organizations as a camp body.
Hurts sustained the concussion at the end of a run in the first quarter of Sunday's 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders. It's not unheard of to clear concussion protocol in less than a week, but one would think Hurts faces an uphill battle to playing on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys:
Jalen Hurts being evaluated for a concussion after this hit.
pic.twitter.com/gi409aOKxz
If Hurts is out, the Eagles will likely roll with Kenny Pickett as their starting quarterback, Tanner McKee as their backup and Book inactive, but available to come into the game if both Pickett and McKee were to get injured. Pickett was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's injury report with a rib injury, though that's just an estimation because the Eagles didn't practice. If for some reason Pickett wasn't able to play, McKee — a sixth-round pick out of Stanford in 2023 that has had some impressive moments in the preseason — would likely get the nod as the starter.
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