The Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles will play on Christmas Eve with the NFC East division title on the line, and key injuries may play a factor in the game’s outcome.
If the Eagles win, they will clinch the division. If they lose, the door is left slightly open for the Cowboys to surge at the end of the season and possibly take the title for the second year in a row.
While the Cowboys continue to deal with an illness that has hounded the locker room for the last two months, the most significant injury news of the game is on the Eagles’ side.
Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts is dealing with a shoulder sprain and has not practiced this week. The MVP candidate has said that he “is feeling fine,” but Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni indicated to reporters on Thursday that the team is preparing to start Gardner Minshew at quarterback against Dallas.
The loss of Hurts in the game boosts the Dallas defense, already one of the league’s top pass-rushing units. Minshew does not offer the same athleticism and dual-threat potential as Hurts which may open opportunities for Micah Parsons and the Dallas defense to pick up sacks and tackles for loss in the game.
Parsons is expected to be available on Saturday after being held out of practice Tuesday and Wednesday with an illness. The illness has struck numerous players in the Cowboys’ locker room over the last several weeks, but it has not caused any player to be ruled out for the game.
The Dallas defense will be without linebacker Leighton Vander Esch on Saturday. Vander Esch was ruled out of the game with a shoulder injury, an encouraging change in designation after it was feared that the injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville was a neck injury.
Vander Esch has dealt with neck injuries in recent years, undergoing spinal surgery in 2020 to alleviate stenosis. An MRI this week revealed that the linebacker has a shoulder stinger which may cause him to miss some time, but it is still good news considering the fear that Vander Esch may have suffered a more severe injury.
There is also a good chance the Cowboys will sit safety Jayron Kearse against the Eagles. Kearse has been an important contributor to the pass defense this season but is dealing with a shoulder or back injury and has been limited in practice this week.
Kearse has dealt with several minor injuries this season, including a leg injury suffered in pregame warmups ahead of the Week 14 game against the Houston Texans.
Wide receiver Noah Brown — the recipient of negative attention after a Dak Prescott pass in overtime bounced off his hands and into the arms of the Jaguars’ Rayshawn Jenkins for the game-winning pick-six on Sunday — has been limited in practice this week with a foot injury.
Tight end Jake Ferguson returned to practice after undergoing concussion protocol from a head injury against Houston. Ferguson scored his first career touchdown against the Eagles in the team’s first meeting this season.
The Cowboys and Eagles will kick off from AT&T Stadium at 3:25 pm CST on Saturday, December 24.
