The 49ers’ chances of becoming the NFC No. 1 on Sunday were slim. They got leaner with the Eagles’ 25-20 win over the Bears that put them 13-1 up for the season. Those odds widened just a little with the news from the quarterback, however Jalen Hurt’s dealing with a sprained shoulder that could keep him out for several weeks.
The injury is reportedly not considered serious, but the Eagles are aiming for their star QB to be fully healthy before he returns. It appears that backup QB Gardner Minshew will start Saturday in Dallas.
To put it bluntly, the Eagles could easily beat the Cowboys in Week 16 and lock in the No. 1 behind Minshew. He’s a capable backup, winning 1-1 in two starts for Philadelphia last year.
There’s also no guarantee that the injury will keep hurts away for the duration of the regular season.
This makes things at least a little interesting, however, as the 49ers have won at least the No. 3 seed up to this point and hold the tiebreaker over the Vikings for the No. 2 seed if they manage to win a game against Minnesota in the last three weeks.
The number 1 was taken off the table as Hurts and the Eagles played so well all year. It’s been on the table for at least a week now and will stay on the table for as long as Minshew starts.
Philadelphia visits the Cowboys on Christmas Eve, then they host a pesky Saints club before ending their season with an NFC East showdown at home against the Giants.
In the event that the Eagles lose, the 49ers would also have to win and suffer at least one loss to the Vikings. It’s a tall order, but it’s just a little shorter while Hurts is out.
The 49ers practice 3 defensive backs ahead of week 16 prep
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