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NFL news, injury updates: Jalen Hurts knocked out of Week 16 loss with concussion, Josh Allen loses feeling in throwing hand

Eagles backup quarterback Kenny Pickett also suffered a rib injury in loss to the Commanders

yahoo sports staff

The NFC playoff chase took a dynamic turn when the Washington Commanders claimed a statement 36-33 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. The win kept Washington in the hunt for an NFC East title and the loss all but dashed any hopes Philadelphia had of the NFC's No. 1 seed.

But the Eagles may have lost more than that after starting quarterback Jalen Hurts was knocked out of the game with a concussion, and backup Kenny Pickett suffering a rib injury in the loss. Losing Hurts for any amount of time would be a massive blow to the Eagles, but Pickett missing time also could put a division title — and possibly more — in serious jeopardy.

Elsewhere around the league on the injury front, Josh Allen suffered a hand injury in the Bills' win over the Patriots, and looking forward to Christmas Day, the Steelers could get George Pickens back, just in time for a visit from the 14-1 Kansas City Chiefs, who'll be looking to lock down the AFC's No. 1 seed with a yuletide win.

As you may recall, Carson Wentz had the inside track to the 2017 NFL MVP award when a late-season injury cost him the rest of the year. A couple of unlikely wins and a "Philly Special" later, and backup Nick Foles was the toast of the town, helping to bring the Eagles their first and only Super Bowl title. After Jalen Hurts went down on Sunday in Washington, Kenny Pickett filled in, and almost helped Philly run their win streak to 10. Now a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Eagles' quarterback room coming out of Week 16.

Coach Nick Sirianni didn't have an update on Hurts' condition after the game, but he'd need to clear the five-step concussion protocol to play in Week 17 against the Cowboys. Pickett did have X-rays after the game, and while he didn't reveal what they found, he told reporters that he thinks he'll be ready for next week.

After Buffalo improved to 12-3 with its comeback win over the Patriots, Josh Allen told CBS Sports that he had "no feeling" in his right hand during the game after taking a helmet to his throwing elbow. He finished the game 16-for-29 for 154 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. The Bills have already won the AFC East, and would need two Chiefs losses to have a chance at the No. 1 seed that Kansas City can lock up on Christmas Day with a win, while the Bills don't play until Sunday in Week 17 (vs. Jets).

What a Christmas present it would be in Pittsburgh. The Steelers' leading receiver has missed the team's past three games with a hamstring injury, and the club has dropped two of three, including a loss on Saturday to Baltimore. Pittsburgh could have won the AFC North in that game, but now the path is a little trickier. If the Steelers win out, they'll take the division, but that'd mean knocking off the back-to-back defending champion Chiefs. Having Pickens back — and also possibly Larry Ogunjobi, Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott — could go a long way toward winning the division for an eighth time under Mike Tomlin.

Live4 updates
  • Liz Roscher

    Lions players were ecstatic after Eagles lost to Commanders

    Following the Lions win over the Bears on Sunday, Detroit players in the locker room turned their attention to the Eagles-Commanders matchup, which was coming to an end shortly after they finished their game.

    How do we know? Just listen to what happens in this clip of head coach Dan Campbell speaking to the media. You can hear Lions players celebrating in the background as the Eagles lost on a last-minute Commanders touchdown. With a win, the Eagles could have clinched the NFC East and made solid strides toward securing the No. 1 seed (and getting that all-important bye).

    But Philly's 36-33 loss makes it far easier for Detroit to sew up that No. 1 seed, and their players weren't shy about expressing their joy.

  • Liz Roscher

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  • Liz Roscher

    What did Joe Burrow think of his unlikely TD pass to Tee Higgins?

    Joe Burrow talked about that incredible pass after the Bengals' 24-6 win over the Browns, and he had no idea how he'd pulled it off.

    "I was parallel. I don't know how I threw it, but that one was pretty cool," said Burrow.

    Then he followed up by giving all the credit to Tee Higgins for getting so open.

    "I need to do a better job at just picking my feet up in pocket," he said. "I don't know how Tee got so open. I'll have to see it on tape, but he obviously ran a great route and saw him open enough to try that throw and was able to execute it."

  • Liz Roscher

    Tee Higgins: Joe Burrow 'looked like Superman' when he threw wild TD pass

    One of the more incredible touchdowns on Sunday came from Bengals QB Joe Burrow. He threw — or tossed? — a pass to Tee Higgins as he was falling down, which Higgins caught for a TD.

    Higgins was asked about that TD after the game, but first let's take a look at that wild play.

    So what did Higgins say about Burrow and that touchdown pass?

    "Motherf****r looked like Superman when he threw it. I’m calling him Superman from this point forward. F*** Batman. Superman.”