Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has found himself under increased scrutiny this season due to the team’s struggles and his often controversial sideline behavior, which includes taunting and antagonizing fans. However, he may have created a new problem for both himself and the Eagles with a recent mistake regarding the injury status of quarterback Jalen Hurts. During a press conference, Sirianni was asked about Hurts being held out for “load management,” but he inadvertently revealed that Hurts was actually dealing with a legitimate ankle injury. Sirianni’s comment raised eyebrows, especially since Hurts had been listed as a limited participant in practice just days before, with rest cited as the reason for his limited participation.
When reporters questioned Sirianni further, pointing out the discrepancy, he appeared caught off guard. A member of the Eagles’ communications team had to remind him that Hurts had no injury designation on the official report, prompting Sirianni to backtrack and claim he had misunderstood the question. His attempt to cover up the slip-up was met with skepticism, and many reporters seemed unconvinced by his explanation.
The incident is particularly concerning because the NFL has strict rules regarding injury reporting. Teams are required to provide accurate, specific, and credible injury information to the league, media, and opponents. If the Eagles are found to have violated these rules, they could face significant fines. In the past, teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers were fined heavily for failing to properly report injuries to players like Bijan Robinson and Ben Roethlisberger. Given the stakes, Sirianni’s mishandling of the Hurts situation could lead to a hefty financial penalty for both him and the Eagles.
