The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that quarterback Jalen Hurts has officially cleared concussion protocol and is set to start in the team's NFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Nick Sirianni shared the news with reporters on Friday, shortly before the pivotal showdown.

Hurts sustained a concussion during a quarterback draw in the first quarter of the Eagles' closely contested 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on December 22. Following the incident, he did not participate in either of the next two weeks' practices or games, though the Eagles opted to rest their starters in the subsequent contest, a regular-season finale victory over the New York Giants on January 5, which ended 20-13. The Eagles, finishing the season with a 14-3 record, secured the NFC's second seed, granting them a home game against the Packers in the Wild Card Round.

According to practice reports, Hurts participated in a limited practice on Wednesday before progressing to a full practice on Thursday. In addition to recovering from the concussion, he has been dealing with a broken ring finger on his left hand throughout the season. Notably, Hurts has accounted for an impressive 32 touchdowns — 18 through passing and 14 through rushing — alongside 2,903 passing yards and 630 rushing yards. The Eagles compiled a commendable 12-2 record in games that Hurts started prior to the Commanders contest. While the team has heavily relied on running back Saquon Barkley and their rushing offense this season, with Barkley leading the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards, Hurts' return is a substantial boost for the Eagles, considering his playoff experience, which includes a Super Bowl appearance in 2022.