NFL Sophomore Watch: Is Jalen Hurts a franchise QB?
Jalen Hurts tries to guide the Philadelphia Eagles past a talented but injured San Francisco 49ers defense as both clubs try to improve to 2-0 in this young NFL season.
This past March, the Philadelphia Eagles traded away Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick. The reasons for the trade were obvious, Wentz had been trending downward statistically for the past few years, and the Eagles had just picked Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Hurts began his college career at Alabama before transferring to Oklahoma for his senior season. He was a proven winner, as he had a 51-5 record in games that he played. Lauded by teammates and coaches alike for his composure, poise, and leadership, Hurts had the accolades and statistics to boot coming out for the 2020 NFL draft.
He was crowned a national champion in 2017 and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2020 as he tore up the Big 12 to the tune of 3,851 yards passing and 32 touchdowns to go along with 1,298 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.
The Philadelphia Eagles took him in the second round with the 53rd overall pick in 2020, likely as Carson Wentz insurance if things didn’t pan out. And, as it turns out, the insurance was necessary. With a decorated college career fully behind him, the 6’1” 223-pound quarterback saw his first extended regular season action last season in Green Bay when Wentz was benched due to poor performance. Hurts only completed 5 of 12 passes but did toss his first career touchdown.
Jalen Hurts started the remaining four games of 2020, going 1-3 but throwing for over 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns. His lone win came against a playoff-bound Saints team, and he showed out in his second start at Arizona, racking up 338 yards through the air, 3 passing touchdowns, and adding 63 rushing yards and a touchdown. The overall picture might not have been great, but Hurts showed flashes of the stellar and winning quarterback he was in college.
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Entrenched as the starter in 2021, Jalen Hurts came out firing on the road against the Falcons, throwing for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns on the way to a blowout 32-6 Eagles win. Many people were down on the Eagles before this season, but with new head coach Nick Sirianni who will also be handling play-calling duties, Jalen Hurts has a legitimate shot at a breakout this season if he can continue his steady play and guide Philly to double-digit wins this year.
But Hurts’ second game will likely be tougher than his first, as he’ll square off against a vaunted San Francisco 49ers defense.