The Philadelphia Eagles faced a major blow on Sunday. And it’s not just the loss against their rival New York Giants but an uncommon injury to the Birds’ quarterback. Jalen Hurts mangled his middle finger during the game, and it has been worrying the NFL world alongside grossing them out.

Hurts played his final game of the 2023 regular season, experiencing a loss of 10-27 against the Giants. This marked their fifth loss in their last six games. Amidst the defeat, the injury also has brought with it multiple concerns, as it might cause trouble in the playoffs for the Philadelphia team and their QB. From the snippets, the condition of his finger appears to be worrisome at the moment. But what exactly is the injury that Hurts has fallen victim to and how did he receive it? Let’s delve deeper into Hurts’ ‘Swan Neck deformity.’

What is ‘Swan Neck deformity’?

Having a dislocated joint is generally better than a broken bone, but it can still be unsettling, such as in Jalen Hurts’ case. During Sunday’s game against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, Eagles QB Jalen Hurt seemed to have dislocated his middle finger. This happened when he collided with Giants’ pass rusher, Bobby Okereke, on a fourth down pass attempt. As soon as he got hit, Hurts’ finger bent in a gruesome way.

According to MD Jesse Morse, as stated on X, Hurts’ right middle finger injury is called “Swan Neck deformity. Aka proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint hyperextension and flexion of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint.”

The doctor further tweeted, “The treatment here really depends on whether or not there is a fracture, and if there is a ligament tear….Since this is his throwing hand and this finger is vital to his throwing ability, the best case scenario is that he wears a splint to prevent hyperextension.”

Morse also clarified that if there is no fracture in his finger then he will be able to play the next week using a tape. Meanwhile, during the game, Hurts stayed put on the field even after injury. He just went for a quick medical examination of the injury and got back for the crucial play. But the question remains, will he be able to recover before the playoffs?

How impactful is Jalen Hurts’ middle finger injury?

Jalen Hurts’ injury is impacting his deep throws for sure. According to reports, the only issue he has is that he might face difficulty with long-distance throws for a few weeks, which can lead to troublesome playoffs for the quarterback. Swan Neck deformity can bring about pain and restricted use of fingers and hands. There are both surgical and non-surgical methods to manage symptoms and potentially correct finger alignment.

Treatment options depend on the severity of SND. Noninvasive approaches for the injury involve physical therapy, occupational therapy, and splints. Whereas, surgical ones can range from minor soft tissue repair to more drastic measures like joint replacement or fusion, which might be considered for severe cases.

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As Hurts’ severity of injury is yet unknown, the Eagles and their medical practitioners will still take time for the final report on his SND. Till now, coach Nick Sirianni hasn’t talked to the trainers or medical staff about Hurts’ “popped out” finger.

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