Mariota makes Philadelphia Eagles debut in loss to 49ers

Marcus Mariota makes Philadelphia Eagles debut in loss to 49ers

By Associated Press and Spectrum News Staff Philadelphia

PUBLISHED 8:30 PM ET Dec. 03, 2023 PUBLISHED 8:30 PM EST Dec. 03, 2023

PHILADELPHIA — Marcus Mariota made his debut at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday when Jalen Hurts was checked for a concussion and briefly left the game against San Francisco in the fourth quarter, returning after a visit to the locker room.

The 49ers went on to win 42-19.

Hurts was 17-of-29 passing for 196 yards and scored a rushing touchdown before he was forced out late in the game. Hurts, last season's NFL MVP runner-up, jogged off the field in the fourth and went straight to the locker room.

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is heading to the locker room after he was slow to get up after a tackle on the previous play.

Backup QB Marcus Mariota is getting ready on the sideline. pic.twitter.com/ToVKHGURIR
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 3, 2023

Mariota, a Saint Louis School graduate and nine-year NFL veteran who has played for the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, was 2-for-3 passing for 16 yards and carried the ball twice for 6 yards.

After Mariota took over, San Francisco scored on the next drive for a 35-13 lead.

Hurts returned to the sideline during the Eagles' next possession and replaced Mariota mid-drive with about nine minutes left. He marched Philadelphia into the red zone and completed a 2-yard TD to DeVonta Smith.

Hurts had led the Eagles to an NFL best 10-1 record headed into Sunday. He had been 27-2 over his last 29 regular-season starts.