Why Andy Dalton is trending: the interception and Jalen Hurts’ reaction explained

Andy Dalton is drawing attention after his only pass in Philadelphia’s 27–7 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 28 was intercepted while Jalen Hurts underwent a concussion evaluation. Broadcast images of Hurts watching from the medical tent circulated afterward, raising questions about the substitution and his reaction.

Hurts’ explanation concerned the wait for clearance: “I was just waiting for the thumbs-up,” Athlon Sports reported on September 29. Dalton, meanwhile, accepted responsibility for the throw: “I can't turn the ball over in that situation,” he said in the Eagles’ official recap.

Beyond NewsJaws’ report on Case Keenum’s winning return, the quarterbacks’ subsequent explanations clarify the sequence behind Philadelphia’s goal-line turnover. Dalton did not throw the interception immediately after entering: the Eagles first ran the ball to the one-yard line, then failed to score on two more runs.

Why Andy Dalton replaced Jalen Hurts

Hurts left during the second quarter after Bears defender D’Marco Jackson hit him out of bounds. According to the Eagles’ recap, Jackson’s unnecessary-roughness penalty and a holding penalty against Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson offset, requiring the down to be replayed.

Hurts later said he felt fine, according to Athlon, while acknowledging that he did not know the full evaluation process. That is his account of how he felt; it does not establish a medical diagnosis or show that the examination was unnecessary.

What happened before Dalton’s interception

Athlon reported that Dalton took four snaps. Saquon Barkley’s 14-yard run brought Philadelphia to Chicago’s one-yard line, but the Bears stopped Barkley on the next two rushing attempts. That left the Eagles facing third-and-goal from the two.

With 6:21 remaining in the second quarter, Dalton threw toward Dontayvion Wicks near the back of the end zone. Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman was in front of the receiver and intercepted the pass, according to the Eagles’ play chronology. Philadelphia was trailing 7–0.

It was Thieneman’s first career interception and Dalton’s only pass attempt of the game, NBC Sports reported. The sequence explains why Philadelphia faced a passing down near the goal line after trying to run. It does not establish the coaches’ detailed reasoning for choosing that particular play.

Dalton’s own explanation focused on the defender he missed. “I obviously didn't see the safety in the middle and he just read my eyes, my eyes were over there and he made the play,” he said in the official recap. He added: “I can't put us in a bad place like that.”

What Jalen Hurts said about the wait

The Inquirer described Hurts as visibly frustrated after the interception. Its broadcast report also embedded a September 29 ArtButMakeItSports post pairing the image from the medical tent with John Singer Sargent’s 1891 painting Man in a Blue Mantle. That documents the image’s circulation, without establishing an audience total.

An expression alone cannot identify the target of that frustration. In the comments reported by Athlon, Hurts said, “obviously, wish we could have expedited things” and “I don’t really draw those protocols up.” Those remarks describe wanting clearance sooner; they do not explicitly blame Dalton.

Coach Nick Sirianni addressed the evaluation during Lisa Salters’ ESPN halftime interview. “The doctors have to do their job,” he said, according to the Inquirer. He also said Philadelphia needed to run successfully from the one regardless of who was playing quarterback, adding: “We got to take care of the ball with Andy.”

Afterward, Sirianni again emphasized safety. “The health of the players (is) the most important thing,” he said in the Eagles’ recap, before describing the possession: “First-and-goal at the one, we lose some yards and then we throw an interception.”

How the Eagles’ loss unfolded after the turnover

Chicago kicked a field goal after the interception to move ahead 10–0. Hurts returned for Philadelphia’s next possession and scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak as the first half expired. The Eagles therefore went into halftime trailing just 10–7, despite the missed opportunity.

Dalton’s interception was one of three Philadelphia turnovers. Tank Bigsby also lost a fumble, and former Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards intercepted Hurts later. Across the game, Chicago gained 375 offensive yards; Philadelphia managed 248, according to the teams’ game coverage.

The contrasting quarterback performance belonged to Keenum. Making his first start since 2023, the 38-year-old completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards, threw two touchdowns and ran for another. NBC reported that he finished without an interception or a sack as both teams moved to 2–1.

What happens next for Philadelphia

The Eagles’ problems extended beyond one replacement appearance. In his team-published analysis, Dave Spadaro reported a minus-five turnover differential through three games, no defensive takeaways and no first-quarter points. Philadelphia also committed 10 penalties against Chicago.

Philadelphia next hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, according to Spadaro. Barkley described the immediate task in the official recap: “We got to fix it. We know the problem. We got to get better at it. Got a short week, so got to move on quick.”