Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts briefly left the team’s September 28, 2026 loss to the Chicago Bears after taking a hard late hit near the sideline and being ordered into the medical tent for a concussion evaluation.
Hurts was ultimately cleared to return and finished the game. He said afterward that he felt fine, meaning the incident was a concussion evaluation, not a confirmed concussion diagnosis. [Yahoo Sports]
What Happened To Jalen Hurts Against The Bears?
The play occurred midway through the second quarter of Philadelphia’s 27-7 loss at Soldier Field.
Hurts scrambled toward the right sideline and reached the first-down marker before stepping out of bounds. Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson then delivered a hard hit that sent Hurts to the ground near the Philadelphia sideline. [NBC Sports]
Hurts got up and appeared ready to return to the huddle, but an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant called for him to undergo a concussion evaluation. [NBC Sports]
Was Jalen Hurts Diagnosed With A Concussion?
No.
Hurts was evaluated for a possible concussion but was cleared by the medical staff and independent evaluator to return to the game. [DraftKings Network]
That distinction matters. Entering the NFL’s concussion evaluation process does not automatically mean a player has sustained a concussion. It means the player showed, or was involved in a play that raised concern for, possible concussion symptoms and had to be examined before returning.
Why Was Hurts Removed If He Looked Fine?
The NFL allows independent medical personnel to stop play and require an evaluation when they see signs or circumstances that could indicate a concussion.
Hurts got up under his own power and attempted to continue playing, but the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant determined that he needed to be checked before returning. [NBC Sports]
That process is designed to remove the decision from the player. A quarterback may feel capable of continuing, but he cannot simply waive off a required concussion examination.
Who Hit Jalen Hurts?
Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson delivered the hit.
Hurts had one foot out of bounds when Jackson made forceful contact, sending him into the sideline area. Officials threw a flag for unnecessary roughness. [NBC Sports]
Was D’Marco Jackson Penalized?
Jackson was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but Philadelphia did not receive the normal 15-yard benefit because the penalty was offset by a holding call against Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson. [NBC Sports]
So although officials ruled that Jackson had committed a foul, the simultaneous Philadelphia penalty meant the two calls canceled each other out.
Why Was Nick Sirianni So Angry?
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni reacted angrily to Jackson’s hit from the Philadelphia sideline.
Television cameras showed Sirianni shouting toward the Bears linebacker after the play. Sirianni later expressed regret over his reaction, explaining that his instinct was to protect his quarterback but acknowledging that he needed to handle the situation better. [6ABC]
The intensity of Sirianni’s response reflected both the late nature of the contact and the fact that it temporarily removed Philadelphia’s starting quarterback from a scoring drive.
Who Replaced Jalen Hurts?
Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton replaced Hurts while the concussion evaluation was taking place.
Dalton was on the field for four plays. Philadelphia reached the Chicago 2-yard line, but Dalton then threw an interception to rookie Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman in the end zone. [NBC Sports]
The turnover made Hurts’ temporary absence especially consequential. Philadelphia had driven deep into Bears territory but came away without points.
Why Was Hurts Frustrated On The Sideline?
Hurts visibly wanted to return to the game as quickly as possible.
He appeared frustrated while waiting for clearance from the medical staff, particularly as the Eagles continued their red-zone possession without him. [Yahoo Sports]
Coach Nick Sirianni said at halftime that the situation was frustrating but emphasized that the doctors were doing their job by protecting the players. [Yahoo Sports]
How Quickly Did Hurts Return?
Hurts was cleared shortly after Dalton’s interception and returned for Philadelphia’s next possession. [NBC Sports]
He immediately helped lead one of Philadelphia’s best drives of the game.
Hurts connected with DeVonta Smith for a 30-yard gain and then scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown as the first half expired. [Yahoo Sports]
Did Jalen Hurts Finish The Game?
Yes.
Hurts remained in the game after being cleared and finished the loss to Chicago.
He completed 16 of 25 passes for 153 yards and also scored Philadelphia’s only touchdown on the ground. [Reuters]
How Did Jalen Hurts Say He Felt Afterward?
Hurts said after the game that he felt fine. He also acknowledged his frustration with having to leave the field during the concussion evaluation. [New York Post]
There was therefore no immediate indication after the game that Hurts had suffered a diagnosed concussion or another significant injury from the play.
Is Jalen Hurts In The NFL Concussion Protocol?
Based on the immediate postgame information, Hurts was cleared during the game rather than being diagnosed with a concussion.
A player who fails the sideline evaluation can enter the NFL’s concussion protocol and must progress through a multistep return-to-participation process before playing again.
Hurts’ clearance allowed him to return the same night, which indicates that the evaluators did not find sufficient evidence at that point to keep him out with a concussion.
What Is An Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant?
An unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant, commonly called a UNC, is an independent physician assigned to help identify and evaluate possible concussions during NFL games.
The consultant does not work for the team involved in the game and can require a player to undergo testing even when that player believes he is capable of continuing.
That is what happened with Hurts: he got up and moved back toward the huddle, but the independent consultant still called for an evaluation. [NBC Sports]
Why Are Sideline Hits On Quarterbacks Penalized?
A quarterback who becomes a runner can generally be tackled like another ball carrier while he remains in bounds.
Once the runner has clearly stepped out, however, defenders are expected to avoid unnecessary contact.
Jackson’s hit came as Hurts was leaving the field of play, which is why officials called unnecessary roughness. [NBC Sports]
Did The Hit Affect The Eagles-Bears Game?
It had an immediate effect.
Philadelphia was driving toward a possible touchdown when Hurts was removed. Dalton replaced him and subsequently threw the interception that ended the possession. [NBC Sports]
Hurts returned and scored before halftime, but Philadelphia’s offense struggled afterward. Chicago scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and won 27-7. [Reuters]
What Is Jalen Hurts’ Injury Status?
The key point is that Hurts was evaluated and cleared.
There was no confirmed concussion diagnosis immediately after the Bears game, he returned to action during the second quarter, finished the contest and said afterward that he felt fine. [Yahoo Sports]
Any later appearance on Philadelphia’s injury report or any subsequent concussion symptoms would represent a new development and would need to be evaluated separately.
Jalen Hurts Concussion Evaluation At A Glance
Game: Eagles vs. Bears
Date: September 28, 2026
Quarter: Second quarter
Player who hit Hurts: Bears LB D’Marco Jackson
Penalty: Unnecessary roughness
Was the penalty enforced? No, because it was offset by an Eagles holding penalty
Reason Hurts left: Concussion evaluation
Was a concussion confirmed? No
Was Hurts cleared? Yes
Did Hurts return? Yes
Backup quarterback: Andy Dalton
Hurts passing: 16-of-25, 153 yards
Hurts rushing touchdowns: 1
Final score: Bears 27, Eagles 7
What Does This Mean For Hurts Going Forward?
The immediate outlook is considerably better than the sight of Hurts entering the medical tent initially suggested.
Hurts passed the in-game concussion evaluation, returned almost immediately and completed the game. There was no postgame announcement of a diagnosed concussion.
For Philadelphia, the episode was therefore primarily a brief injury scare and an example of the NFL’s concussion safeguards affecting a game in real time rather than confirmation that its starting quarterback had suffered a significant head injury.
