Eagles Injury Report: Jalen Hurts Out for Monday Night Cowboys Clash

The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, October 26, with quarterback Jalen Hurts sidelined due to blood clots in his calf and lungs. This marks the fourth consecutive loss for Philadelphia, a team that began the season with a 2-0 record. The injury list extends beyond the signal caller, as wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks will also miss the contest. Cornerback Nolan Smith is expected to sit out as well, while running back Saquon Barkley, tight end Landon Dickerson, and offensive linemen Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt are all listed as questionable to play.

Dallas arrives in Philadelphia following two defeats that exposed vulnerabilities in its offensive scheme. The Cowboys combined for 29 points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers, a sharp decline from the 30-point totals they recorded in each of their previous three games. Despite generating over 300 total yards in both recent matchups, the offense struggled significantly against blitzing defenses. Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 20 of 38 passes for 194 yards without a score when facing extra rushers in those two contests.

The Eagles present a different defensive profile than the teams that have recently challenged Dallas. According to Tru Media data, the Eagles have blitzed on only 24.1% of dropbacks this season, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. In contrast, the Buccaneers and Packers pressured the quarterback on 38.8% of dropbacks in Weeks 5 and 6. This lower blitz frequency may allow Prescott to operate with more comfort, though the Eagles' secondary features cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Cooper DeJean.

Philadelphia's defense has allowed opponents to complete 60.4% of passes for an average of 7.0 yards per attempt. However, the unit has given up eight touchdown passes while recording only three interceptions. The Eagles have also been aided by 14 opponent drops, the second-highest total in the league. Their pass rush has generated a sack, hit, or hurry on only 32.9% of opponent dropbacks, placing them below the league average in both time to pressure and time to throw.

The Cowboys' rushing attack has been inconsistent, combining for just 98 yards in their last two games despite the return of guard Tyler Smith. Running back Javonte Williams has seven rushing touchdowns this season but averages only 3.7 yards per carry, a drop from his 4.8 average in the previous year. The Eagles allow just 4.0 yards per carry on the ground, which may limit the effectiveness of the Dallas running game.

Philadelphia's offensive line faces a difficult task without Hurts, whose presence in the run game is a key component of their strategy. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee threw 48 times in the previous week, a high volume that aligns with his career average of 44 passes per start. McKee has a 16 of 45 completion record for 179 yards and no touchdowns in his career when under duress, with a 15.1% sack rate. The Eagles' top targets in this game are expected to be Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, and Dallas Goedert.

The Cowboys have allowed opposing teams to run for at least 165 yards in each of the other five games they have played this season. Opponents are averaging 4.7 yards per carry against Dallas. If the Eagles can establish a running game, either with Saquon Barkley or Dameon Pierce, they may be able to control the pace of the game. Barkley fully practiced on Friday for the first time since his hamstring injury, though the team may limit his workload in his return.

The game is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. It will air on ESPN and ABC, with streaming available on Fubo. The Cowboys are favored by 4.5 points, with the over/under set at 43.5 points by DraftKings Sportsbook. Both teams enter the matchup seeking to end their respective two-game losing streaks.

The Eagles' defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has blitzed on at least 38% of opponent dropbacks only once since taking over the role. His typical strategy involves relying on his defensive backs to cover the field rather than sending extra rushers. The Cowboys' offensive line will need to protect against a defense that has been comfortable letting quarterbacks stay in the pocket for extended periods.