Kenny Pickett, who replaced Jalen Hurts in last Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders, was praised by many Philadelphia Eagles players for his performance. The story takes an a different turn if DeVonta Smith catches a pass on third down.
The Eagles knew Hurts wouldn’t be able to clear concussion protocol in time for Sunday’s game, so they were getting Pickett ready to start against the Dallas Cowboys. With a full week of preparation, rather than running an offense built for Hurts and filling in at the last minute, Pickett would have the opportunity to prove he can be a starting quarterback once more.
When the strategy was adjusted to play to Pickett’s strengths, the storyline outside the NovaCare Complex changed. The story was different inside the Eagles’ practice facility.
“We know Kenny’s a baller,” stated A.J. Brown, a wide receiver for the Eagles. “He entered and carried out his assigned task. I felt pleased for him. But he fulfilled his obligations precisely. Last week, he gave us a chance to win.
Pickett did more than play well in the Eagles’ 41-7 victory over the Cowboys. He played exceptionally. He finished 10 of 15 for 143 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions for a 119.6 passer rating, including a rushing touchdown.
This was with broken ribs he suffered in last week’s loss to the Commanders. Pickett practiced with the broken ribs all week and played two-and-a-half quarters with the injury before aggravating his condition late in the third quarter. The Eagles were up 24-7 and had the game in hand, so there was no reason for Pickett to reenter the game.
“He was amazing,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said. “People always forget that Kenny was a starting quarterback in this league and won a lot of games over there in Pittsburgh. We expect him to do great things, and he did that tonight. He let y’all know he’s still here.”
Not only did Pickett play through the broken ribs, but he also converted two of the Eagles’ famous “tush push” plays with his condition worsening. One was for a first down, and the other for a touchdown.
“The last person I’ve seen do stuff like that was [Matthew] Stafford,” Slay said. “He played through real bad injuries [in Detroit] and was still making plays. To see that dude come out here like that just shows how tough he is and how much he cares about this team. He put us in a great position to win, and we appreciate that.”
