If Jalen Hurts takes off during Sunday's NFC Championship Game, Washington plans to make him pay.
Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt told reporters on Thursday that his players plan to treat the Philadelphia Eagles QB like a running back when he uses his legs.
"We've had a number of these guys that we've had to prepare for," Whitt said. "The one thing is, is if he's going to run the ball, and if the coordinator makes the decision for him to run the ball, we're going to treat him like a running back, and we're going to hit him that way. So that's their decision if they want to get him hit the way he gets hit. If they don't, they'll keep him in the pocket. So, that's what we're going to do."
Hurts rushed 10 times for 39 yards and a TD in the Eagles' Week 11 win over Washington -- 18-of-28 passing for 221 yards. In the Week 16 matchup, Hurts suffered a concussion on a scramble and did not return.
Whitt's comments didn't inflame Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, who said that's how every team treats Hurts.
"Every team is going to try to tackle Jalen like a running back," Sirianni said on Thursday. "He's running with the football. They'll try to tackle him. We ultimately are cautious with how we use him and how we think about each play because we know how important it is to have him out there. I wouldn't expect anything else. Jalen knows how to take care of himself. We know how to help him do that as well as far as the scheme goes."
Hurts' ability to run on Sunday could hinge on the knee injury he suffered in the Divisional Round win over Los Angeles. The QB sustained the injury on a third-quarter sack. On the 18 plays after, he attempted just three passes, completing all three for 19 yards, and took one kneel-down.
The QB was updgraded to a full participant on Thursday after he was listed as limited on Wednesday during a walkthrough practice.
