Hobbled Hurts leads Eagles past Dolphins
Slay’s interception seals deal for Philly
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts needed a brace on his left leg in the second half — then shook off whatever ailed him to stand tall in the pocket and lead a go-ahead scoring drive — before he hobbled off the field after yet another Eagles win. Hurts is hurting, for sure.
“I don’t want to put his business out there,” receiver A.J. Brown said. “But just know he’s a tough individual. He’s putting us in good positions to win.”
Hurts rebounded from a pick-six to hit Brown with the go-ahead touchdown on the next drive. He threw for 279 yards and combined for three scores to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a 31-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night.
Hurts offered little about what’s wrong. Asked if it is an injury that could impact him moving forward, Hurts only said, “I hope not.”
“Man, he’s a competitor,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “There’s nobody else I’d rather have as our quarterback.”
Hurts threw two more interceptions but found Brown 10 times for 137 yards to get by Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins (5-2).
But the big play that sealed the win came in the fourth quarter from the cornerback nicknamed “Big Play” Slay. Trailing 24-17 in the fourth, Tagovailoa went deep on a pass intended for Raheem Mostert that was picked by Darius Slay near the goal line and returned 16 yards.
With the Eagles wearing throwback Kelly green jerseys, Slay added one more defensive highlight in a fan-favorite team color once worn by Reggie White.
“I’ve been in this position a lot,” Slay said. “Big time, big time moments. Sunday night. I’m making all the plays.”
The Eagles tush-pushed their way toward first downs on a clock-eating drive late in the fourth before Hurts hit Brown for a 42-yard reception and Kenneth Gainwell sealed the win with a 3-yard touchdown run.