The Philadelphia Eagles have utilized their infamous “Tush Push” to fantastic success. Any third or fourth and short is effectively automatic when you have a strong quarterback like Jalen Hurts and his teammates’ support behind him (pun not intended). Jason Kelce, a man literally at the forefront of the play, has seen firsthand how opposing teams try to defend it.
He isn’t remotely a fan of what the Buffalo Bills’ Jordan Phillips apparently tried to pull last Sunday. (Note: Phillips did get into a tiff with Eagles fans during the game.)
In an appearance on Sportsradio 94WIP Wednesday, Kelce recalled a key sequence where the Eagles lined up for their trademark variation on the quarterback sneak. Kelce called out Phillips for intentionally trying to hurt right guard Cam Jurgens while bursting through the line.
There’s a lot to unpack here:
"[Jordan Phillips] purposely tried to hurt Cam Jurgens and I thought it should have been a personal foul…I thought that play in particular was absolutely a disgrace that the NFL should not allow."
Jason Kelce didn't hold back on the hit Cam Jurgens took against the Bills: pic.twitter.com/9Vf8zkqNsz
— WIP Morning Show (@WIPMorningShow) November 29, 2023
Here’s the play in question (the second in this video):
Jason Kelce on the second play in this video, where Jordan Phillips goes after Cam Jurgens:
“I thought it was bull s**t at the time…He purposely tried to hurt Cam Jurgens…I think he should be fined for that play.” pic.twitter.com/Lh8El3SQpD
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) November 29, 2023
It’s impossible to discern Phillips’ intent — whose job is literally to burst through the line of scrimmage, especially on any short-yardage play. But the way Phillips rolls through Jurgens excessively is easy to see after what already appeared to be an afternoon of extracurricular activities.
Kelce called on the NFL to fine Phillips and discipline him for intentionally going overboard on Jurgens. He might have a case, but we shall see whether the league answers his call.
This was how Twitter reacted to Kelce's accusation of Phillips
In addition to taking a cheap shot at Jurgens, he also could have pushed him into Jalen's knees. This was a despicable game worth of plays https://t.co/7crgGoM8as
— Thierry Ennui (@CoolGuyPGH) November 29, 2023
Wow, this guy needs to be fined or suspended. You shouldn’t be playing that way and trying to injure players. #Eagles https://t.co/h9ena3MQgG
— Bert (@AJM71687) November 29, 2023
I understand where he is coming from… it is a tough game against two really good teams and things get scrappy https://t.co/CRQX66djhR
— Evan DiPasquale (@Evandipo2) November 29, 2023
do the players know they stepped to the fan in the stands? smh https://t.co/XDUB8lzxFr
— Saarah Aliya (@SaarahAliya) November 29, 2023
Looks like there were a few things not called on the bills too… https://t.co/tguOa3ohb4
— Hands Up 🙌 (@handszup7) November 29, 2023
And this was one of a half-dozen dirty plays from Jordan Phillips on Sunday, in addition to confronting a fan in the stands before Shaq Lawson ultimately shoved the fan.
And since we’re keeping track, none of these plays were penalized. https://t.co/dZh6KmZyPn
— Mike Maher (@mikeMaher) November 29, 2023
having your team be the villain is fun ngl https://t.co/rccNxTvtz5
— r (@phillyronan) November 29, 2023
I would be doing this every time they lined up in this formation, as soon as hurts put his hands under center. https://t.co/82lPHxpBGA
— Kevin Hemmings (@kevinhemmings3) November 29, 2023
The intention is not trying to hurt but to do anything possible to stop the play from happening it’s a contact sport https://t.co/KxULP83qgb
— Vontrell ❄️ (@2ktrell) November 29, 2023