Ex-Chiefs QB Signs With Eagles After Jalen Hurts Injury: Report

Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Ian Book received his next NFL opportunity on December 26.

“The [Philadelphia] Eagles are signing QB Ian Book to the practice squad following his visit yesterday, sources say,” NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported on Thursday of Week 17.

“Jalen Hurts (concussion) was listed as DNP [did not practice] on yesterday’s projected practice report while Kenny Pickett (ribs) was limited,” Garafolo explained. “Tanner McKee and Book now also available.”

Book spent the 2024 training camp and preseason period with the Chiefs, competing with Chris Oladokun for the third quarterback role in Kansas City. In the end, KC elected to move on from both players in favor of available former fourth-round talent Bailey Zappe.

Unfortunately, Zappe was later poached off the Chiefs’ practice squad by the Cleveland Browns. KC has since re-signed Oladokun as their QB3.

Ex-Chiefs QB Ian Book Reunites With Eagles Ahead of NFL Playoffs

There’s a reason the Eagles chose to sign Book as quarterback insurance, rather than someone else. The former 2021 fourth rounder of the New Orleans Saints spent some time in Philadelphia from 2022 through 2023.

That gives him some familiarity with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and his offensive system.

Book has not appeared in a regular season NFL game since his rookie campaign with the Saints in 2021. Although he has earned some looks during the preseason.

With the Eagles in 2023, Book completed 63.2% of passes for 91 yards and zero touchdowns or interceptions. He was sacked 3 times.

Statistically speaking, Book performed better with the Chiefs this summer. Over three preseason outings, the former Notre Dame signal-caller completed 72.7% of passes for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. He did not throw any interceptions.

Sacks were Book’s major issue with Kansas City, as he took 5 of them in limited action. The fourth-year pro also fumbled twice with the Chiefs, losing one of them to the opposition.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Is Getting Everyone Involved Again in 2024

As he has in recent seasons, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is distributing the ball with great variety as the 2024 campaign comes to a close.

On Christmas Day, eight different KC pass-catchers caught the ball as Mahomes threw for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns with an elite total QBR rating of 90.1 out of 100.

Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy led the way with 8 receptions each, but Hollywood Brown (4), Justin Watson (2), Samaje Perine (2), JuJu Smith-Schuster (2), DeAndre Hopkins (2) and Noah Gray (1) all got on the board as well.

And according to A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman, there are signs that the best is still yet to come.

“The offense was cooking against the [Pittsburgh] Steelers in Week 17, but they haven’t quite yet reached their final form,” Goldman wrote on December 26.

“You can tell that by the wide receiver snap splits,” he reasoned. “Players like DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown each were on the field for less than 50% of the team’s offensive snaps. Yes, Kansas City has a lot of snaps to go around at skill positions, but it feels like they’re also holding back from opening the offense up and keeping their best weapons on the field as much as possible.”

“Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster played the most snaps among wide receivers this week,” Goldman went on. He concluded that “I won’t be shocked if we see Hopkins and Brown up there once the playoffs roll around.”

Mahomes agreed that the offense is finally hitting its stride after Week 17. Perhaps, the Chiefs still have a trick or two up their sleeve ahead of the playoffs.