Hurts’ concussion evaluation interrupts Eagles’ goal-line drive
Philadelphia failed to score from the 1-yard line while its quarterback was being assessed after a hit to the chin.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was taken off the field for a concussion evaluation after a hit to the chin during the game against the Chicago Bears. The NFL’s independent concussion spotter prompted the assessment.
With Hurts out, Saquon Barkley was stopped twice from the 1-yard line. Andy Dalton, in at quarterback, then had a pass intercepted in the end zone by rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, ending the scoring chance.
Hurts was cleared around the time the drive ended. He appeared frustrated in footage captured by ESPN, though the account does not establish precisely when he was cleared or whether he could have returned earlier.
Chicago scored three points on its ensuing possession. Philadelphia’s failed drive came while Hurts was being assessed, but the sequence does not establish that his absence cost the team a touchdown.
The NFL says athletic trainer spotters have been assigned to games since the end of the 2011 season. They monitor play and broadcasts for potential injuries, with an emphasis on concussions and other head and neck injuries, and can alert team medical staff when a player should be evaluated.
