The team officially placed Hurts on Injured Reserve (IR) ahead of Week 6, confirming that backup quarterback Tanner McKee will continue taking the first-team snaps under center.

Hurts is still recovering from a serious medical diagnosis involving blood clots. Medical evaluations revealed that blood clots originated in his left calf and subsequently traveled to his lungs (pulmonary embolism), requiring immediate blood thinner therapy and long-term rest.

Jalen Hurts’ situation

Because athletes on blood-thinning medication cannot participate in contact sports due to internal bleeding risks, medical specialists and ESPN’s Adam Schefter report that Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season.

The medical issue stemmed from a routine football play during Philadelphia’s Week 5 contest against the Los Angeles Rams, where Hurts sustained deep tissue trauma after taking a cleat to his left calf.

While the diagnosis effectively ends Hurts’ 2026 campaign, medical professionals emphasize that the long-term prognosis for his career remains fully positive. With proper medical treatment and anticoagulation therapy, doctors anticipate Hurts will make a complete recovery in time for offseason activities ahead of the 2027 season.

In the interim, head coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles’ offense must navigate the remainder of the schedule relying on Tanner McKee, attempting to stay afloat in a competitive NFC East race.

Key takeaways

• Jalen Hurts is out today after being diagnosed with blood clots in his calf and lungs.
• Medical protocol regarding blood thinners is expected to keep Hurts sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season.
• Tanner McKee starts at quarterback for Philadelphia against Washington in Week 8.

Jayden Daniels continues to guide an explosive unit that keeps Washington firmly in the divisional race. In sharp contrast, the Eagles must navigate this pivotal matchup relying entirely on their backup quarterbacks. Franchise star Jalen Hurts sits on injured reserve, leaving head coach Nick Sirianni scrambling for stability. Injuries have battered Philadelphia’s offense across multiple key positions this week.

Besides the quarterback void, fans also wonder why DeVonta Smith isn’t playing today for the Eagles vs Commanders in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season. That combined absence forces the Eagles to lean heavily on untested personnel against a division rival. Washington intends to capitalize on Philadelphia’s sudden roster vulnerability.

Commanders QB depth chart vs Eagles

Jayden Daniels leads the depth chart as Washington’s undisputed starting quarterback. His dual-threat playmaking and accurate downfield passing remain the engine of Washington’s aerial attack. Daniels gives Washington a distinct advantage over Philadelphia’s depleted secondary.

Veteran Marcus Mariota operates as the primary QB2 behind Daniels. Mariota brings extensive starting experience, providing dependable insurance if Daniels ever needs to miss snaps. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis dresses as Washington’s emergency QB3.

Eagles QB depth chart vs Commanders

Tanner McKee starts under center for Philadelphia while Hurts recovers from his medical condition. McKee earned the nod after climbing the depth chart during the early weeks of the season.

Rookie dual-threat passer Cole Payton serves as Philadelphia’s primary backup behind McKee. Payton offers athletic packages if the coaching staff seeks a spark on short-yardage downs. Meanwhile, mid-season addition Joe Milton III suits up as the emergency QB3 on the active gameday roster.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels steers Washington’s offense as starting quarterback against the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Jalen Hurts sits on injured reserve, forcing Philadelphia to rely on backup quarterbacks.
• Tanner McKee starts under center for Philadelphia while Jalen Hurts recovers.

The soft-tissue issue originally surfaced during training camp and has plagued Smith across the 2026 NFL season. After sitting out against Dallas last week, this marks the fourth game Smith will miss this fall.

Head coach Nick Sirianni refused to rush his playmaker back without full clearance. Philadelphia wants to ensure Smith completely heals before subjecting him to full game action again.

Eagles WR depth chart vs Commanders

Philadelphia enters Northwest Stadium with an extremely depleted receiving corps on the active depth chart. Starter Dontayvion Wicks will also miss the matchup due to a lingering ankle injury, leaving the unit without its top two boundary options vs Commanders. Wideout Makai Lemon steps into the primary wide receiver role for the afternoon.

Lemon leads the wideout room alongside rotational targets Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, and practice-squad elevation Giles Jackson. Because the outside options lack proven experience, veteran tight end Dallas Goedert will function as the focal point of the passing attack.

How does DeVonta Smith’s absence affect the Eagles passing game?

Losing Smith strips Philadelphia of its best route runner and primary big-play spark. Even with limited action this year, Smith leads the Eagles with 310 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 26 catches. His absence prevents quarterback Tanner McKee from pushing the football vertically.

Without Smith stretching the field, Washington’s secondary can aggressively attack the intermediate parts of the game. Opposing safeties will likely shade heavily toward Goedert while loading the box against Saquon Barkley.

Key takeaways

• DeVonta Smith was officially ruled out against Washington with a hamstring injury.
• Wide receiver Makai Lemon steps into the primary role with multiple starters sidelined.
• DeVonta Smith leads Philadelphia with 310 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season.

“We say the division’s right in front of us. It is as long as we win,” Prescott said via ESPN. “And if you lose another game, then you’re probably checking to see what New York’s doing. You’re probably checking and watching the other teams more than we should.

“So yeah, I mean you got to win games, got to win division games. How big of a game this was, understanding how much they’re hurt on their offensive side, yeah, huge road win for us.“

With the halfway point of the schedule approaching, the Cowboys are keeping their hopes alive of overtaking the Giants and winning the division. Maintaining consistency and securing crucial divisional victories could prove to be key factors in their pursuit of the NFC East title.

NFC East standings after Week 7

Both the Cowboys and the Giants secured crucial victories, pulling away from their division rivals. Meanwhile, the Eagles and Commanders, both dealing with a significant number of injuries, have yet to find their footing in the NFC East.

Another chance to pull away

The New York Giants get a break on their bye week, while the rest of the division steps onto the field. The Dallas Cowboys host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and to wrap up the week’s action, we have a divisional clash as the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Landover to face the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.

Keep the foot on the gas

Beating the Eagles on Monday Night Football could have provided a major emotional boost for the Cowboys. Both Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer know they cannot afford to let up if they want to take the lead in the division.

“Nobody’s going to give it to us. Nobody’s going to say, ‘Yeah, you’re the better team. You got it,'” Prescott said. “That’s what’s so great about the NFL, so we’ve got to come out and earn it each and every week, and there’s going to be no difference coming next Sunday.”

Coach Schottenheimer also added: “I think it gets us right back into the hunt in the NFC East.”

Key takeaways

• The New York Giants lead the NFC East division standings after seven weeks.
• Dak Prescott highlighted the Cowboys’ road win against the injured Philadelphia Eagles.
• Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated the victory puts the team back in contention.

Hurts was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli days ago, prompting the medical staff to decide that the best course of action was to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season to protect his health. As a result, Tanner McKee will take the reins as the starting quarterback at Lincoln Financial Field.

This setback in the quarterback room has triggered changes to the depth chart. Cole Payton is now the first backup, and all indications suggest that he will remain in that role through the Eagles’ final week of the season.

What we know so far about Hurts’ situation?

Jalen Hurts is sidelined after a scary health update that started with a leg issue originally spotted back on October 10 in London. While it was initially thought to be just a minor superficial calf issue—leading to him being cleared to play the next day—follow-up tests later revealed deep vein thrombosis that spread to his lungs.

Because of how dangerously this escalated, the NFL and the Players Association are currently looking into the whole situation to investigate potential medical negligence, trying to figure out if the team’s medical staff dropped the ball by clearing him to fly across the Atlantic and play contact football when things were far more serious.

Injuries hit the Eagles hard

Beyond the situation at quarterback, the Eagles have been absolutely hammered by injuries across their roster this 2026 season. Their explosive offense has taken a massive hit, with Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith both sidelined by nagging hamstring injuries.

To make matters worse, the backfield depth is completely stretched as backup running back Will Shipley landed on injured reserve with a foot injury, while key defensive contributors like Nolan Smith Jr. (concussion protocol) and Michael Carter II (abdomen) have also missed significant time. With critical starters sidelined on both sides of the ball, Philadelphia is facing an uphill battle just to keep their lineup intact each week.

Key takeaways

• Jalen Hurts is out for the season due to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli.
• Tanner McKee takes over as starting quarterback, with Cole Payton as the primary backup.
• The NFL and NFLPA are investigating potential medical negligence regarding Jalen Hurts’ London trip.

After failing to participate in practice throughout the week, the coaching staff opted to sideline the 27-year-old playmaker rather than risk further structural damage. Head coach Nick Sirianni emphasized that the team prioritizes his long-term recovery.

With fellow wideout Dontayvion Wicks also ruled out due to an ankle injury, Philadelphia enters the rivalry matchup very depleted at wide receiver. Saquon Barkley will be playing vs Cowboys, and it seems like he might need to take the offensive workload.

DeVonta Smith is a huge absence in terms of production

Losing Smith removes Philadelphia’s most consistent and explosive boundary threat. Despite appearing in only four games this season, he leads the Eagles with 310 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 26 receptions.

Smith’s polished route running and ability to separate against top cover corners have provided good stuff for Philadelphia’s aerial attack. Hence, without his presence stretching defenses vertically, opposing secondaries can compress coverage.

Who will be the Eagles’ best target vs Cowboys

With Smith sidelined, veteran tight end Dallas Goedert emerges as the primary focal point of the Eagles’ passing offense vs Cowboys. All in all, Goedert has 17 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Given how the Eagles are using Tanner McKee at quarterback, Goedert should be heavily targeted.

On the outside, young wideout Makai Lemon should get an expanded role too. Lemon has 18 catches for 127 yards in the 2026 NFL season. He should see a sharp uptick in targets as Philadelphia looks to exploit Dallas’ coverage voids.

Key takeaways

• DeVonta Smith has been officially ruled out against Dallas due to a hamstring injury.
• Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is also ruled out because of an ankle injury.
• DeVonta Smith leads the Eagles with 310 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season.

Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN, Barkley is trending in the right direction to play vs Cowboys. Philadelphia is aiming to keep pace in the division race. Hence, having its primary runner healthy provides an immediate offensive boost.

The Eagles plan to feature Barkley as their lead back from the opening drive. Barring an unforeseen pregame setback, fans can expect Barkley to suit up and handle his customary starting workload against Dallas.

Saquon Barkley’s season has been underwhelming

Despite entering the year with towering expectations, Barkley’s 2026 campaign has gotten off to a remarkably sluggish start. Across four appearances heading into Week 7, he has managed just 182 rushing yards on 36 carries. Even worse, he has failed to find the end zone a single time on the ground.

An average of 5.1 yards per carry looks efficient on paper. However, inconsistent volume and nagging injuries have severely limited his rhythm and weekly impact. Barkley has also contributed little in the passing attack, registering just four receptions for eight total yards.

The Cowboys run defense should allow yards

Barkley needs a breakout performance to jumpstart his season, and Dallas is the ideal opponent to do so. Through six games, the Cowboys rank dead last in the NFL against the run, allowing a league-worst 149.8 rushing yards per contest and 899 total yards on the ground.

Opposing ground attacks have repeatedly damaged Dallas’ interior front, gashing them for 4.7 yards per attempt while dominating time of possession. With the Cowboys surrendering eight rushing touchdowns and ranking among the league’s worst in rush defense EPA, Barkley has a prime opportunity to thrive.

Key takeaways

• Saquon Barkley is trending in the right direction to play against the Cowboys.
• Saquon Barkley has totaled 182 rushing yards on 36 carries through four games.
• The Dallas Cowboys rank dead last in NFL run defense, allowing 149.8 yards per game.

The division rivals meet Monday, October 26, at Lincoln Financial Field, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 PM ET. The quarterback depth charts reflect two very different situations and both teams are looking to improve their position.

Dallas has the established combination of Prescott and backup Howell, while Philadelphia must navigate life without Hurts, who was placed on injured reserve after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli.

Eagles QB depth chart: Starters and backups

Tanner McKee is listed as the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback for Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys, with rookie Cole Payton behind him and Joe Milton III also appearing on the team’s quarterback depth chart.

Jalen Hurts is listed on injured reserve in the latest Week 7 depth-chart, making McKee the key name to watch. He moved into the backup role earlier in the season after Philadelphia released veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.

The 2023 sixth-round pick had initially competed with Dalton for the No. 2 spot, but the Eagles ultimately chose to move forward with McKee as Hurts’ primary backup. The rookie Payton is listed as the third quarterback, giving Philadelphia another developmental option if the depth chart is tested further.

Cowboys QB depth chart: Starters and backups

Dak Prescott is the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback for Week 7, with Sam Howell listed as his backup. Their official 2026 depth chart confirms that order heading into Monday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field.

Prescott remains the centerpiece of Dallas’ offense, bringing extensive NFL starting experience to one of the biggest divisional games of the season. His presence gives the team continuity at quarterback, while Howell provides a second option with previous experience as an NFL starter.

Howell secured the backup job after competing with Joe Milton III during the preseason. Dallas ultimately waived Milton in August, leaving Prescott and Howell as the quarterbacks on its active roster.

He previously started all 17 games for Washington in 2023, throwing for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns, although he also recorded 21 interceptions that season. The depth chart is relatively straightforward: Prescott is the undisputed first option, and Howell is next in line if the starter cannot continue.

Key takeaways

• Monday, October 26 at 8:15 PM ET, the division rivals meet at Lincoln Financial Field.
• Tanner McKee starts for Philadelphia with Jalen Hurts placed on injured reserve.
• Dak Prescott starts for Dallas, with Sam Howell listed as the backup quarterback.

Cornerback Will Lee was penalized with a $6,377 fine for his third-quarter actions, while tight end Tommy Tremble received a team-high fine of $11,941 for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fourth quarter. Safety Zakee Wheatley rounded out the disciplinary trio with a $5,626 fine. Tremble scored twice in the game for the Panthers.

The three incidents took place at different stages of the matchup vs Eagles, with Tremble being the only player actually flagged during live play. The league’s postgame video review caught the other two infractions.

Only one player not on the Panthers roster got a taunting fine in Week 6

Carolina shockingly accounted for nearly the entire league’s taunting violations in Week 6. Across all games played, only four players total across the NFL were penalized for taunting, meaning the Panthers racked up three times as many fines as the rest of the league combined.

The lone player outside the Panthers organization to get a taunting fine this week was Green Bay Packers wideout Matthew Golden. In a very weird turn of events, the Panthers showed a fiery side to them in Week 6.

The Panthers players fined won’t face suspension for now

While the financial hit is there, all three Panthers players will remain fully eligible without missing game action. Under NFL disciplinary guidelines, standard unsportsmanlike conduct and first-time taunting infractions result only in monetary fines rather than game disqualifications.

However, head coach Dave Canales will certainly put some emphasis on emotional control moving forward to avoid costlier setbacks. Repeat infractions can lead to escalated fines or potential suspensions down the road.

Key takeaways

• The NFL issued fines to three Carolina Panthers players for taunting against Philadelphia.
• Carolina tight end Tommy Tremble received a team-high fine of $11,941 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Packers wideout Matthew Golden was the lone non-Panthers player fined for taunting.

There’s a lot on the line for both sides. The Cowboys and Eagles are coming off consecutive losses (the Eagles have lost four in a row) and sit tied for second in the division with 2-4 records. Dallas may be even more desperate for a win than Philadelphia, though, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer made that clear right away.

“I’m pissed off. (The players) are pissed off too. We’re ready for a win,” Brian Schottenheimer admitted, per Jon Machota of The Athletic, after Week 6’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Eagles may be ready to tank

In Philly, the team is getting the sense that this will be a down year, and losing Hurts for the rest of the season seems to be the final nail in the coffin. The team’s fate now rests in the hands of quarterback Tanner McKee, who’s become the starter ever since Hurts was sidelined due to his concerning health status.

As the Cowboys gear up for the primetime game at Lincoln Financial Field, Schottenheimer’s bold comment should put the home team on notice. The Cowboys are looking to get back on track, and that will only be possible with a statement win in a hostile environment that is truly one of a kind.

High-stakes Week 7 matchup

The Linc during divisional primetime games is no joke, and Dallas wants to be the team that tames that beast and crushes Philadelphia’s hopes before the NFL trade deadline.

The Eagles, though reeling from Hurts’ loss, will want to return the favor and keep piling on the Cowboys’ defensive woes after their disastrous start to the campaign.

The stakes are high, and the season may be on the line for both NFC East rivals as they enter a Week 7 matchup that feels a lot like a season-deciding game. For both head coaches, Schottenheimer and Sirianni, this could also be a game they look back on later in the year when the front offices evaluate their futures in Arlington and South Philadelphia, respectively.

Key takeaways

• Jalen Hurts is out for the 2026 season after developing multiple lung blood clots.
• Head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated Dallas Cowboys are “pissed off” and desperate for a win.
• Backup Tanner McKee takes over as starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.

On the Eagles’ depth chart, Payton Cole is listed as the primary backup option behind McKee. Further down the chart is Joe Milton III, who was recently signed for this team.

Hurts’ situation is undoubtedly a blow that no one within the franchise saw coming. Significant injuries have hit the Eagles hard, a team that entered the season with serious aspirations of winning the NFC East. Now, the big question is how they will overcome these losses and keep their hopes alive in a division that leaves little room for error.

More details on Hurts’ situation

On the health front, Jalen Hurts is temporarily stepping away from football activities for the remainder of the season, after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli following additional medical evaluations, according to insider Ari Meirov on X.

The good news is that he remains clinically stable, though his treatment requires him to be on blood thinners, which naturally sidelined him for now. Fortunately, according to his agent Nicole Lynn, the long-term outlook is “very good,” with doctors fully expecting a complete recovery and zero lasting impact on his career once he’s cleared to return.

What’s next for the Eagles without Hurts?

Starting in Week 7, the Eagles are staring down a heavy dose of NFC East division rivalries. First up, they host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field (Monday, October 26).

Next, they hit the road for Sunday Night Football in Week 8 to square off against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium (Sunday, November 1). Finally, in Week 9, they return home to Philly to welcome the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field (Sunday, November 8).

Key takeaways

• Jalen Hurts will miss the season due to blood clots in his lungs.
• Tanner McKee becomes the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 on October 26.