The Chicago Bears picked off Andy Dalton after he briefly replaced Jalen Hurts, and an avoidable delay in the blue medical tent cost the Philadelphia Eagles a touchdown
Jalen Hurts was made to watch the Philadelphia Eagles lose possession from the medical tent
Jalen Hurts was made to watch the Philadelphia Eagles lose possession from the medical tent(Image: ESPN)
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The Philadelphia Eagles made a disastrous start to Monday's primetime game at the Chicago Bears, and things went from bad to worse after quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered an injury in the red zone.
The Eagles faced the Bears at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football, but Chicago was without franchise quarterback Caleb Williams, who suffered a minor hamstring injury last week. As Tyson Baegent was navigating concussion protocol, that left veteran quarterback Case Keenum.
On Monday, however, it was Hurts who suffered an injury scare and was rushed to the blue medical tent while the Eagles were on the brink of scoring a touchdown. It comes after the MAGA community slammed a Mexican-inspired national anthem performance.
Hurts was forced off the field after a late hit by Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson, with the Eagles quarterback rushing for the sidelines. Hurts was then evaluated for a concussion and begrudgingly headed to the blue tent.
Andy Dalton replaced Hurts, and his first snap was handed off to Saquon Barkley. The Eagles' running back was stopped just one yard shy of the goal line, at which point Philadelphia would usually employ its tush-push tactic.
Hurts was seen peeking out of the blue tent and was desperately attempting to check back into the game. Hurts saw his request denied, and Dalton continued to hand off to Barkley in the hopes that he could pick up the additional yard required.
The Bears read the intended play and stopped Barkley before tackling him again on third down. Dalton then faced a 4th-and-3, but Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni decided to go for the touchdown and not accept the field goal.
As Dalton attempted to find a receiver in the end zone, his pass was picked by Dillon Thieneman. The Eagles not only failed to score a touchdown, but they also failed to put any points on the board, losing possession.
According to ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters, Hurts was upset that he wasn't cleared in time to return to the field. He had already been evaluated by a red hat, but by the time they came back to clear him officially, Dalton had already thrown the interception.
D'Marco Jackson slammed Jalen Hurts with a late hit and forced him into the blue tent
D'Marco Jackson slammed Jalen Hurts with a late hit and forced him into the blue tent(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Hurts was furious, as was Sirianni, who was seen screaming at Bears linebacker Jackson, who forced the Eagles quarterback off the field. "That was as angry as I've ever seen Jalen Hurts," Troy Aikman said on the broadcast.
Sirianni was called out by some fans on social media for not using a timeout while Hurts was being evaluated. However, the first half came full circle, as Hurts scored a touchdown as time expired.
Hurts rushed for a first down, and the Eagles were forced to call their final timeout with seconds remaining. DeVonta Smith was tackled at the one-yard line, with just six seconds left and the clock continuing to run.
Rather than spike the ball, Hurts went for his favored tush-push and brought the Eagles within three points of the Bears. Chicago led after a touchdown by Luther Burden III, before a Cairo Santos field goal.