PHILADELPHIA — Out of NFL concussion protocol, Jalen Hurts is ready to roll for the Eagles.
With Hurts cleared, the NFC East champion Eagles (14-3) are close to full strength in the starting lineup for their NFC wild-card game Sunday against Green Bay.
''You always feel better when Jalen Hurts is on the field,'' Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Friday.
The Eagles quarterback hasn't played since he suffered a concussion and left a Dec. 22 game early against Washington. The 26-year-old Hurts returned to practice this week, a sure sign he was healthy enough to make the postseason start. Hurts missed the final two games — where backups Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee led the Eagles to victories — but led the Eagles on a 10-game winning streak before he was injured in a loss to the Commanders.
The Eagles were a 4 1/2-point favorite on Monday to beat the Packers and had 7-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. On Friday, the Eagles moved to 5 1/2-point favorites to beat Green Bay.
There are five phases in the concussion protocol, with the final one clearance by an independent neurological consultant.
Hurts said he had never suffered a concussion but added, ''I feel great now.''
The Eagles are a legitimate Super Bowl contender with Hurts in the lineup and should have the upper-hand against Green Bay when it comes to healthy quarterbacks. Packers QB Jordan Love said this week his elbow — injured in the regular-season finale — was still sore, and he felt pain when he did some limited throwing in practice.