Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew has been allowed to miss practice this Tuesday to attend Mike Leach’s funeral, per ProFootballTalk.com.
Leach, who coached Minshew at Washington State, passed away on December 12. As such, the QB was down to make a speech at the ceremony, which clearly means more to him than a walkthrough, though he is in line to start against the Dallas Cowboys this week.
“He was the first person I’ve ever been around who, just by the way he lived and how authentic he was, brings that out in the people around him,” Minshew told the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane in the wake of Leach’s passing.
“I never found myself more comfortable with myself than when I was with coach Leach. The way he believed in me — that belief, that’s something that really resonates, and that’s something I tell any parent, coach, teacher. The best thing you can do for a kid is believe in him. And he did that for me, and it changed my life.”
Minshew is likely to start against the Cowboys this coming Saturday as Jalen Hurts is nursing a sprained shoulder. He will also be back at the Eagles’ facility when he returns from the funeral service on Tuesday night.
Philly head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed Hurts sprained his right shoulder against the Chicago Bears on Sunday but hasn’t ruled him out. Hurts, who has been having an excellent season and is a top candidate for league MVP this year, had X-rays on Monday which didn’t point to a lengthy absence.
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Minshew started one game last season and completed 20-of-25 passes for 242 yards. He also registered two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
“This guy [Minshew] is a great backup quarterback that could be starting on teams in this league, and we know that,” Sirianni noted, via CBS Sports. “He doesn’t need a lot of reps. He’s ready to go because of the football IQ he has, the intelligence he has.
“If he has to go, we’ll have 100 percent confidence in him because he can ball. He proved that last year. I think he’s proven that throughout his career. He’s a winner. He’s a winner. That’s all he knows how to do.”
The Eagles only need one win from their last three games to secure the NFC East, as well as home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
