Eagles' Cam Jurgens Questionable for Cowboys Game After Neurologist Clearance Requirement

The Philadelphia Eagles are holding their breath as starting center Cam Jurgens fights to play in their critical Week 12 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. An injury report released on November 24, 2025, on philadelphiaeagles.com lists Jurgens as "questionable," but the real hurdle isn’t just a sore knee or bruised rib—it’s a mandatory clearance from an independent neurologist. "Jurgens is officially listed as questionable for the game and must be cleared by an independent neurologist before he is eligible to play," the report states plainly. No injury date. No diagnosis. Just a chillingly standard phrase that sends a ripple through the locker room: concussion protocol.

What "Questionable" Really Means in the NFL

The NFL’s injury designations aren’t just jargon—they’re life-altering labels. "Questionable" sits between "doubtful" and "probable," meaning Jurgens has a roughly 50-50 shot at suiting up. But here’s the twist: unlike most injuries where coaches and trainers give gut calls, this one is out of their hands. The league’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee requires an independent neurologist—someone with zero ties to either the Eagles or Cowboys—to sign off. It’s not a formality. It’s a firewall. And until that signature appears, Jurgens can’t even step onto the practice field, let alone the field at AT&T Stadium.

This protocol, refined since 2011 and updated every offseason, was born from tragedy. It’s why former Eagles center Jason Kelce once said, "I’d rather sit out 10 games than risk my brain for one." Jurgens, 27, born in Bergen, Nebraska, and wearing No. 58, has been a rock on the Eagles’ offensive line all season. His absence wouldn’t just mean a replacement—this is about continuity, timing, and chemistry. The Eagles’ line has allowed just 18 sacks through 11 games. Jurgens has started every game this year. Losing him now, against a Cowboys defense that leads the NFC in pressures, is a nightmare scenario.

The Invisible Pressure of the Neurologist’s Office

We don’t know how Jurgens got hurt. Was it a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 11? A fall during a routine drill? A lingering symptom that flared up after Sunday’s win over Washington? The report doesn’t say. But we do know this: the neurologist won’t just look at scans. They’ll run sideline cognitive tests, check for balance issues, assess reaction time, and compare baseline data from the preseason. It’s not just about whether he’s dizzy—it’s whether his brain is fully recovered.

And the clock is ticking. The Eagles’ final injury report—where Jurgens’ status will be locked in—is due 90 minutes before kickoff. That’s likely Friday night, November 28, 2025, since Week 12’s game is scheduled for Sunday, November 30. If he’s not cleared by then, backup center Jack Conklin (a veteran signed in free agency) will likely slide into the starting role. Conklin, 32, has 11 years of NFL experience but hasn’t started a game since 2023. He’s a solid player, but he’s not Jurgens. And in the NFC East, where every possession matters, that gap could cost the Eagles a division lead.

Why This Game Matters More Than Most

The Eagles are 8-3. The Cowboys are 7-4. A win here keeps Philadelphia in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage in January. A loss? Suddenly, the division becomes a three-team dogfight with the New York Giants lurking. And it’s not just about standings—it’s about momentum. The Eagles have won six straight. Jurgens has been part of every snap of that streak. His presence anchors the entire offensive rhythm. Quarterback Jalen Hurts relies on him for snap timing, line calls, and blocking schemes that open lanes for Saquon Barkley.

Without Jurgens, Hurts faces more pressure. More blitzes. More confusion. And the Cowboys, under head coach Mike McCarthy, have one of the league’s most aggressive fronts. They’ll sense weakness. They’ll attack it. The Eagles’ coaching staff, led by Nick Sirianni, won’t say a word publicly—but inside the film room, they’re already drawing up contingency plans.

What Happens If Jurgens Can’t Play?

If Jurgens is ruled out, the Eagles will likely promote rookie center Anthony Cook from the practice squad. Cook, a sixth-round pick out of Ohio State, has been working with the second team since training camp. He’s athletic. He’s smart. But he’s never taken a snap in a regular-season game. That’s not just a risk—it’s a gamble. The last time the Eagles started a rookie center in a divisional rivalry? 2016. They lost by 24 points.

And while the team hasn’t commented, the financial stakes are real. Jurgens is in the final year of his rookie deal, earning $1.8 million. A prolonged absence could affect his future market value. But that’s not the conversation happening now. Right now, it’s about health. About safety. About doing what’s right—even if it means sitting out the biggest game of the season.

What’s Next?

The Eagles will release another injury update on Friday afternoon. That’s when we’ll know if Jurgens is cleared—or if the neurologist’s pen has spoken. If he plays, it’ll be a story of resilience. If he doesn’t, it’ll be a reminder that in the NFL, even the strongest linemen are one hit away from being sidelined.

For now, Eagles fans are doing what they always do: watching the clock, checking the app, and hoping for good news. Because in Philadelphia, you don’t just root for a team—you root for the men who protect the quarterback, who block the giants, and who, sometimes, have to sit out because their brain needs time to heal.