Jason Kelce has heard the criticism of the Eagles' success running the tush-push, and has had enough.
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Kelce is a driving force behind Philadelphia's success running the suddenly controversial play, along with quarterback Jalen Hurts' ability to routinely squat 600 pounds. However, that hasn't stopped critics from calling for the play to be banned, as Hurts leads the league with 36 rushing first downs gained on 3rd down and 4th down and 1.
Criticism has grown louder in the aftermath of the Giants' disastrous failed attempt in a Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks that saw center John Michael Schmitz and tight end Daniel Bellinger suffer knee and back injuries that have sidelined them multiple weeks.
But, Kelce doesn't believe that the play should be banned, and took to his New Heights podcast co-hosted with his brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, to push back on the recent criticism.
#Eagles C Jason Kelce thinks players will start faking injuries on tush-push plays so the NFL eventually bans it.
Kelce: "It's nonsense. It's not a play that historically has been a higher injury chance."
(via @newheightshow) pic.twitter.com/JSgRAzjvm2
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 11, 2023
"There really haven't been that many injuries on this play," Jason Kelce said. "But, if there's a way that this play is going to be outlawed, this is how it will be."
Kelce believes that there's a chance the league will lean on player safety as a reason to ultimately ban the play, as the Eagles have converted 81.3 percent of their attempts this season, according to ESPN Stats and Information.
"What I'm worried about," Kelce said. "Is if I'm a defensive coach, any of these that I can have a guy go up limp on, because I'm planning ahead for next year, to try to stop offenses ... I swear, I guarantee, guys are going to start faking injuries. It's going to be minor injuries at first, but they're already thinking about 'how can we get this outlawed for next season,' that's all they're doing."
This past offseason, the NFL competition committee decided not to ban the play, but Kelce believes that the outcry for a rule change might be too much for the league to ignore in 2024.
"That's all they're doing," Kelce said. "They're all complaining. And now, guys are going to start faking injuries, just like people fake injuries to get you from going full-tempo, and it's nonsense. It's not a play that has been historically a higher injury chance or prevalence."
