Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was visibly frustrated by a sideline concussion evaluation that kept him off the field for a promising drive that ended in an Andy Dalton interception during Monday night’s game against the Bears. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni didn’t love the moment, either, but he understands the importance of ensuring that the players are kept safe and healthy.
“Obviously frustrating,” Sirianni told Lisa Salters of ESPN at halftime of Monday night’s game, “but the doctors have to do their job. The guys — they got to protect these guys. And, you know, we have a hit on the sideline that they looked at, and that’s the way it goes. We gotta be able to run the ball in from the one, regardless of who’s in there. Yeah, I’m bummed that Jalen wasn’t in for that. We got to take care of the ball with Andy. But, hey, I mean, they’re doing their best to keep the players safe.”
Unlike former Giants coach Brian Daboll last year in a prime-time game against the Eagles, the emotional Sirianni stayed away from the tent. The punishment imposed by the league on the Giants, Daboll, and running back Cam Skattebo may have had something to do with that.
Regardless, Sirianni gets it. If a player is getting checked for a concussion, he’s not available. The coaching staff and the players have no choice but to adapt to that circumstance.