Is Jalen Hurts playing vs. the New York Giants? Week 18 injury update and fantasy outlook for the Eagles QB

For the past two weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles have been forced to play without their superstar quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Eagles have been defeated in both games with Gardner Minshew under center and cannot afford a loss in Week 18 if they are to finish as top seed in the NFC.

The positive news is that Hurts is expected to return this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport reports that the 24-year-old returned to workouts last week following a sprained shoulder joint injury.

The Eagles are confident Hurts can be ready for Sunday, which is the last outing of the regular season.

Jalen Hurts made a brief appearance in training just before Week 17. He was a limited member on Thursday and Friday but took part in some passing. He was declared questionable to participate and was eventually ruled out.

The 13-3 Philadelphia Eagles risk losing their hold on both the NFC East and the top seed in the NFC if they suffer a third consecutive defeat. This could be the difference between a bye week with home turf in the playoffs and multiple games in front of hostile crowds.

The Eagles are huge home favorites against the Giants in Week 18. The New York Giants have secured a postseason spot for the first time since 2016 and hope to finish above.500 away from home this season. If Philly wins, they will clinch the top seed in the NFC, gaining a bye through the Wild Card round and home games in the playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys will win the NFC East division if the Eagles lose and they beat the Washington Commanders in Week 18.

If Jalen Hurts is cleared to play, he is a must start in fantasy. He scores too many points to drop and his upside is just too great to ignore. Against a Giants side that may rest some starters, Hurts will likely have a big week.

Has Gardner Minshew been a good deputy for Jalen Hurts?

Jalen Hurts was enjoying an MVP-caliber campaign before injuring his shoulder. He has thrown for 3,472 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions, adding 747 yards and 13 TDs on the ground.

In Hurts' place, Gardner Minshew performed excellently against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. In a 40-34 defeat, he completed 24 of his 40 throws for 355 yards, two TDs, and two interceptions.

Last Sunday's outing against the New Orleans Saints saw Minshew start again, but his performance dipped. Philadelphia managed just 10 points in the loss, a season-low mark.

The Eagles require Jalen Hurts' return following two straight losses to rebuild their confidence going into the postseason. A win here is the difference between home field advantage with a bye week and a trip to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card.