Veteran QB is a Perfect Match for Eagles After Jalen Hurts Injury

For reasons unknown, the football gods put another obstacle in the Philadelphia Eagles' way on Sunday. Just mere minutes into their contest against the Washington Commanders in Week 16, Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts was forced to leave the game after being shaken up on a run play.

While Hurts indicated he was good, officials asked him to leave the game and go under head injury evaluation. He then departed for the locker room and was quickly ruled out with a concussion, immediately raising fears for those in Philly, especially with the playoffs right around the corner.

With only Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee healthy in the immediate aftermath, the Eagles should consider a QB signing to fortify this unit. As it so happens, there's a perfect fit for the team who's looking for another NFL shot.

Longtime quarterback Teddy Bridgewater made it known earlier this week that he is interested in making a return to the league. He spent the past year as the head coach of his former high school, Miami Northwestern, and even led his alma mater to the state title. Now he's put out feelers for possible NFL opportunities before returning to preparing for next HS season.

Bridgewater's NFL career was quite the roller coaster. He entered the league as a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2015 as the team's full-time starter. However, a preseason injury forced the QB to miss the entire 2016 season and paved the way for his exit from Minnesota.

Though his stock was at an all-time low, a 5-0 performance as a fill-in starter for the New Orleans Saints in 2019 led to full-time opportunities with the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. Then most recently, he served as a backup for both the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.

Bridgewater's highs and lows make him a perfect supporting player for any QB room. He knows nothing can be taken for granted, but he also has proven success in the NFL that proves he belongs.

Neither Pickett (same amount of touchdowns and INTs thrown in his career at 13 entering Week 16) nor McKee (still yet to play a snap in the regular season) can say they're proven talents. Pickett, who'd be in line to start if Hurts is out at any point down the stretch, has also never been to the postseason, so trotting him out with the team's Super Bowl hopes on the line is a dangerous scenario.

Bridgewater's made six trips to the playoffs in his career, including a start in 2016. He knows exactly what this environment demands, especially after serving as the main backup QB for the Lions in 2023 amid their run to the NFC Championship Game.

There is almost zero downside to adding Bridgewater to the Eagles' mix as a safety net ahead of the playoffs, making this an obvious first move in the wake of Hurts' injury.

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