Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley have started every game for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2025 NFL season. This could potentially change in Week 18 when they take on the Washington Commanders.
Their game still has playoff implications, but they may be without some of their stars, according to head coach Nick Sirianni.
Are Eagles Resting Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley in Week 18?
The Eagles do have something to play for in Week 18 with the NFL Playoffs set to kick off next week. They and the Chicago Bears have not yet settled which team will be the second seed in the NFC. A win keeps Philadelphia in the race to earn it, but a loss against the Commanders would lock them into the third seed instead.
This apparently isn’t enough for them to play all of their starters this week, as they will apparently prioritize health and rest over their seeding. NBC Sports Philadelphia quoted Sirianni earlier in the week, suggesting that this was the plan.
“If I look back at how beneficial some of the byes that we’ve had have been, that’s part of the reason why you think through it. It’s a marathon of a season. You give your guys some rest, you get some time to think through some different things, even though you’re preparing for an opponent as you go. Both times that I’ve been here that we’ve been to the Super Bowl, we’ve had that opportunity for a bye,” said Sirianni.
While he didn’t confirm anything in his statement, it surely sounded as though he was leaning towards resting some of his starters after they’ve already clinched the NFC East division title. His suggestion was reportedly followed by confirmation a few days later, which included the expectation that Tanner McKee will start in place of Hurts this week.
It’s also unlikely that Barkley will play this week if the Eagles are resting their starters, given the importance he holds to the team’s quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
If he does sit in Week 18, some combination of Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley will likely handle the majority of the backfield workload. Some of their other key players may also sit, based on Sirianni’s comments about the situation.
Hurts currently ranks 14th among all quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for this season, while Barkley ranks 30th among running backs.
This represents a notable regression from last year, when both ranked among the top four players in their respective positions. A week off to reset could theoretically be what they need to elevate their games for the playoffs.
