The announcement of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round next Monday night initially appeared advantageous for both teams, granting an extra day for rest and recovery, particularly for their quarterbacks.

On Monday morning, the Eagles received positive news regarding quarterback Jalen Hurts, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. X-rays on Hurts’ middle finger, dislocated in Sunday’s loss to the Giants, revealed no fracture. Despite the apparent discomfort during the game, the absence of a fracture is a relief for Hurts and the Eagles.

Hurts, who mentioned taking it day by day, benefits from the extra day leading up to the Monday night matchup. In the event Hurts is unable to play, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who performed solidly in Sunday’s game, would step into the starting role.

However, the Eagles have other injury concerns to monitor throughout the week. On Sunday night, rookie safety Sydney Brown suffered a torn ACL, delivering tough news for the team. Wide receiver AJ Brown, safety Reed Blankenship, and guard Cam Jurgens also left Sunday’s game with injuries. AJ Brown, in particular, was reported to be feeling better on Monday, with the team awaiting MRI results, and he was not seen on crutches after the game.

Reflecting on previous encounters, Jalen Hurts faces the Buccaneers in the playoffs after having played against them three times. While struggling through the air in past meetings, Hurts has found success on the ground. The Bucs won the 2021 regular-season matchup in Philadelphia, but the Eagles secured a win in the 2021 Wild Card Round. The teams are set to meet again during the 2024 regular season.

As Hurts looks to even the score against the Bucs next Monday night, the condition of his right throwing hand’s middle finger remains a potential factor, depending on how the week progresses.