Jalen Hurts might see increased reps for Eagles on Monday
Jalen Hurts could see increased reps for the Eagles on Monday.
The 2020 season has been a major struggle for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. Could his struggles be giving way to rookie second-round pick Jalen Hurts?
Wentz has 14 interceptions and 10 fumbles in 10 games, and is completing less than 59 percent of his passes. Although the Eagles committed long-term to Wentz, they used a second-round pick on Hurts in the 2020 NFL Draft when they had other needs they could address.
Wentz’s struggles have understandably been met with some calls for Doug Pederson to at least throw Hurts out there and see what he’s got.
There’s no indication at this point that Hurts is going to be starting, but there is a chance he could see some playing time on Monday night as a non-gadget player.
Sources: #Eagles rookie QB Jalen Hurts is expected to receive increased playing time on Monday night – without Carson Wentz on the field.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 29, 2020
My story on the shift in Philly: https://t.co/QqFNeRlGV2
Jalen Hurts has been getting first team reps at quarterback in front of Monday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, according to sources.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) November 29, 2020
Hurts has thrown just two passes so far in 2020, but he does have 12 rushing attempts and four first downs.
Shockingly, he also has three fumbles in his limited time.
Hurts’ path to this opportunity is a fascinating one, to be certain. He was replaced at Alabama by Tua Tagovailoa and spent a year behind him, honing his craft behind the scenes and waiting for another opportunity. When he got it, it was clear that Hurts had drastically improved as a passer.
Ahead of the 2019 season, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma to play under Lincoln Riley and improved even more as a passer and all-around player. He completed nearly 70 percent of his throws in a pass-heavy offense with 32 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards through the air.
He still managed to also run for 20 touchdowns, bringing him to 52 total touchdowns on the year in his lone season with the Sooners.
The Eagles obviously liked the improvements they saw, and made Hurts their second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Back in 2017, Hurts looked like he might be headed towards a late-round grade, if he was drafted at all. He put in the work after being benched for Tua Tagovailoa and has now worked himself into potentially a starting job with the Philadelphia Eagles.
At the very least, he has worked his way into a role for a struggling Eagles offense, and for the first time this season, it will be more than just a gadget type of role.