'Lucky' Cowboys Watch As 'Frightening' Health Issue Moves Eagles QB Jalen Hurts To IR

The Dallas Cowboys enter NFL Week 6 with a crummy 2-3 record - despite catching a number of "lucky'' breaks along the way ... while obviously failing to take full advantage of those.

And now comes another fortuitous piece of news.

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced a roster decision on starting quarterback Jalen Hurts regarding a what a source calls his "frightening'' blood clot issue.

Philadelphia will be placing Hurts on injured reserve, sidelining him "indefinitely,'' to borrow ESPN's phrasing.

No right-minded person "roots'' for an opponent's injury, of course. Nevertheless, this awful news in Philadelphia - plagued in recent weeks by everything from injuries (Saquon Barkley, who is out) to illnesses to a shocking retirement (by lineman Lane Johnson) - certainly shoves open a door of opportunity for the Eagles' NFC East rivals.

The Eagles are also 2-3 and will be shorthanded when they play Carolina on Sunday. Both Dallas and Philly trail the upstart 3-1-1 Giants.

The path to a division title is a wide one. ... and a week from now, the Cowboys play at Philadelphia in a critical clash.

The health and safety of the Hurts is the top priority for the Eagles. But on the football side?

Before going out with the injury, Hurts threw for 933 yards with eight touchdown and three interceptions. Hurts rushed for 107 yards and one touchdown on the ground, the former Super Bowl MVP continuing to put on display his dual-threat abilities.

And now what? 

Without Hurts, backup Tanner McKee will take over as the starter for the Eagles. Behind him is the unheralded Cole Payton, and ironically, the Eagles just poached Joe Milton off the Dallas practice squad.

More irony: The practice-squadder being called up this weekend to fill Hurts' roster spot? That would be former Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue.

Additionally, there are rumors that Philly might bring in another ex-Cowboys QB, TCU product Andy Dalton, the veteran who is a street free agent.

All of this represents misfortune for an Eagles team that entering the year was favored to win the NFC East.

But it simultaneously represents a stroke of luck for a Cowboys team that is obliged to try to take advantage of it.