Philadelphia Eagles: (Probably) no Pro Bowl alternate spot for Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts is a Pro Bowl alternate.

Should he have been? Over quarterbacks like Dak Prescott or Matthew Stafford? Your opinion may vary, but according to, well, everyone really, the second-year quarterback could theoretically take the field in Las Vegas next month for the least consequential game of the 2021 NFL season.

Could that ultimately still happen? Potentially so, all it takes is one player opting out to free up a spot from QB1, but after watching all three of the game’s NFC quarterbacks get eliminated from Super Bowl consideration, the chances of that actually happening has become a pretty big longshot.

Unfortunately, if you were planning on buying a Jalen Hurts Pro Bowl jersey, you might just have to go the custom route, as that might be your only route to a new fit, Philadelphia Eagles fans.

Some Philadelphia Eagles alternates still have a shot at the Pro Bowl.

According to NBC Sports, the Philadelphia Eagles had six players named Pro Bowl alternates earlier this season; Jalen Hurts, Javon Hargrave, Jake Elliott, Dallas Goedert, Shaun Bradley, and Josh Sweat.

Assuming none of the players currently committed to play opt out of the game and the only reason they are unable to attend the proceedings is that their squad is in the Super Bowl, that would leave only two teams – and their players – left in the conversation. Of those teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, there are nine combined Pro Bowl players, including four who play positions with a Philadelphia Eagles alternate.

If the 49ers make it to the big game, that would mean George Kittle and Nick Bosa -among other players – would be unable to attend the Pro Bowl and thus could open the doors for Dallas Goedert and Josh Sweat, assuming the latter is healthy enough to attend.

By contrast, if the Los Angeles Rams win out and become the second team in as many seasons to host a Super Bowl on their home turf, they too would have two players at positions where the Eagles have alternates in kicker Matt Gay and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Considering Elliott set a new franchise record for field goal percentage and Hargrave really should have been picked over Kenny Clark for that final Pro Bowl spot initially, I’m sure both players will be rooting for the gold and blue on Sunday.

That’s the good news. The bad news? Bradley’s Pro Bowl dreams are likely dashed, too, as the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl dreams are long gone, and J.T. Gray will all but surely represent the team on February 6th.

Would it be cool to see four Philadelphia Eagles represented at the Pro Bowl instead of two? Sure, I mean, I certainly won’t be watching, but it’ll definitely help whichever additional players get the gig when they next hit the contract bargaining table. And hey, even if Jalen Hurts and Shaun Bradley aren’t included in the game, it’s just an honor to be nominated, as the Academy would say.