NFL Injury Updates: Eagles QB, Ford, Watts

The Eagles were able to pull out a dominant win over the Cowboys today despite playing nearly the entire second half with a third-string quarterback. Philadelphia started Kenny Pickett this week as usual starter Jalen Hurts continues to sit with a concussion, but rib injuries ended up taking Pickett out of the game forcing Tanner McKee to make his NFL debut in the win.

Pickett came into the game with some rib issues, necessitating pain relief injections both before the game and at halftime. After taking a shot to the ribs early in the second half, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Pickett left the game headed for the X-ray room and did not return to the game.

Pickett finished a game that was already very much out of hand, completing three of four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action after getting drafted in the sixth round last year. At 13-3, the Eagles are locked into the 2-seed. Even if the Lions lose tomorrow night, the No. 1 overall seed will be decided in the Vikings’ trip to Detroit next week. The loser will get the 5-seed, and Philadelphia will be the second-best division-winner no matter what.

With that in mind, it would be no surprise to see McKee start week 18 against the Giants. The team is risking nothing but further injury, and they’d likely be thankful for the opportunity to give both the starter, Hurts, and the primary backup, Pickett, an extra week of recovery.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

• The Browns continue to deal with injuries in the offensive backfield. Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and starting running back Nick Chubb are on injured reserve, and backup quarterback Jameis Winston was ruled out with a right shoulder injury before today’s game. Late in the first half of today’s loss to the Dolphins, Cleveland saw another backfield offensive player go down when running back Jerome Ford was landed on by right tackle Jack Conklin, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Ford appeared to suffer an injury to his right foot and/or ankle and did not return for the remainder of the game. The Browns finished the game with Pierre Strong and D’Onta Foreman at running back. With the final game of the season coming against one of the league’s top rushing defenses in Baltimore, Cleveland may be fielding a third-string quarterback and running back in their season finale.
• The Giants saw veteran defensive tackle Armon Watts suffer what looked to be a serious knee injury today, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. The cart was immediately rushed out for Watts, and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. While not likely to join IR like so many other defensive linemen on the team, Watts may have seen his last action of the season, anyway.