Will Jalen Hurts play against the Washington Commanders in Week 18 in the NFL?
The Philadelphia Eagles have a shot to move up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, but they are putting their players’ health first in the season finale.
With a chance to climb to the No. 2 seed in the NFC still technically on the table, the Philadelphia Eagles are instead expected to prioritize health. The Eagles plan to rest quarterback Jalen Hurts and several other key starters in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders.
If Hurts sits, backup quarterback Tanner McKee is expected to get the start. McKee has seen limited action this season, appearing in three games and attempting just three passes.
Tanner McKee is expected to start for the Eagles in Week 18 against the Commanders, as the team will rest several starters, including Jalen Hurts. 🦅 #NFLRumors
— MiloX Sports NFL (@MiloXSportsNFL) January 1, 2026
Eagles choosing rest over seeding
Entering Week 18, the Eagles remain in position to move up from the No. 3 seed to No. 2 in the NFC. That jump would require two things: a win over Washington and a Chicago Bears loss to the Detroit Lions.
The No. 2 seed would guarantee Philadelphia at least two home playoff games if they advance past the Wild Card round. Instead, the Eagles appear willing to forgo that possibility in exchange for extra rest.
Head coach Nick Sirianni has openly acknowledged the appeal of essentially creating a “bye” week ahead of the postseason. Earlier this week, he pointed to past seasons as evidence that the approach can work. The last two times Philadelphia rested starters in Week 18, during the 2022 and 2024 seasons, the Eagles went on to reach the Super Bowl.
“It’s a marathon of a season,” Sirianni said recently, explaining why rest is always part of the discussion late in the year.
While Hurts is the biggest name mentioned in the report, he likely won’t be alone. Other cornerstone offensive players such as A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley could also be held out or see extremely limited snaps.
That would leave Philadelphia entering the postseason without playing a meaningful game for nearly two weeks, a strategy that has both supporters and critics.
Resting starters naturally gives Washington a better chance to steal a win, though the Commanders are dealing with issues of their own. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has already been shut down for the season, and his backup, Marcus Mariota, is also injured. That could leave Washington starting veteran Josh Johnson once again.
Rather than using Week 18 as a tune-up, the Eagles are betting that rest, health, and a reset will matter more once the postseason begins. History suggests the strategy can work, but if the Eagles stumble early in the playoffs, this decision will be revisited immediately.
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