The Philadelphia Eagles had a strong start to the 2023 season but had a massive second-half collapse that ended in a Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has taken heat for the team’s downfall last year and is looking for a chance to quiet the doubters going into 2024. Will he get a chance to give fans a sneak peek at how good this Eagles offense can be in their preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night?
The Latest on Jalen Hurts’ Playing Status Versus the Ravens
Update: The Eagles were expected to play all of their starters heading into their preseason game against the Ravens. However, at the last minute, most notable starters, including Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and AJ Brown were made inactive.
No key starters for the Eagles on offense, including Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith
Would have been surprised if they played. Smart move by the Eagles to rest them.
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 9, 2024
Eagles fans will get to see their starters play against the Ravens on Friday, including Hurts.
They’ve been waiting to see new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore dial up plays for the group. Moore hails from the rival Dallas Cowboys, where he was their offensive coordinator from 2018-2022. He spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. All in all, Moore has a solid track record of generating solid offensive production.
#Eagles plan is to play their starters for a series in tonight’s preseason opener at the Ravens, team sources said.
Could be more depending upon how the series goes.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) August 9, 2024
This is an exciting time for Hurts and the Eagles offense, as they’ll have an experienced play-caller over their heads. Unlike last season, when rookie coordinator Brian Johnson was at the helm and couldn’t handle the pressure.
Moore seems impressed with Hurts’ ability to run the offense smoothly and fans should get a glimpse into what that looks like on Friday night. He dove into a little of what to expect from Hurts and the Eagles offense this year.
“He’s (Hurts) been phenomenal. He’s done an awesome job just continuing to build and evolve with this thing as we go. I think the communication has been critical, it’s been awesome, hits with the players…. He’s done an excellent job through camp of just utilizing different adjustments when he needs to, protections, routes, run game, he’s done a phenomenal job with this.”
How To Watch Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens
Here’s how fans can tune into Friday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Live streaming options: NFL+, Sling TV, Fubo
This is a nightcap (relatively speaking) of the three-game preseason slate — the first two matchups kick off at 7:00 p.m. The Atlanta Falcons travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins, while the Houston Texans take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
What To Expect From Hurts in 2024
Fans shouldn’t expect another collapse unless something is seriously wrong with the Eagles that hasn’t been revealed yet.
Despite their disappointing end to 2023, the Eagles still had one of the most explosive offenses in the league. They had a 14% explosive-run rate and a 10% explosive-pass rate, both top 10 in the league according to Sharp Football Stats.
His weapons are still among the best in the NFL, with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith qualifying as one of the best wide-receiver duos. Their offensive line is also returning with a chip on their shoulder. Longtime center Jason Kelce retired following last season, so Cam Jurgens will be inserted as the replacement.
Hurts is one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the league and should continue to do what he does best. He threw for 3,858 yards with 23 touchdowns to 15 interceptions in 2023.
Does Hurts Have a New Supporting Cast?
The Eagles stole a big-name free agent from the rival New York Giants, signing running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal. They let 2023 lead back D’Andre Swift walk in free agency for the chance to sign Barkley.
Barkley has had injury problems throughout his career, but it’s clear that he’s a dynamic player when healthy. He had 962 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last season for a bad Giants offensive unit. Barkley running behind the best offensive line of his career could be a scary thought for opposing defenses.
Two former Giants in wide receivers Parris Campbell and John Ross followed Barkley to the Eagles. Both only spent one year with the Giants and neither made an impact, but Campbell is expected to start in the slot for the Eagles this year.
Behind Hurts is Kenny Pickett, who the Eagles traded for earlier in the offseason. Pickett’s a 2022 first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he’ll get a chance to sit and learn from one of the league’s best in Hurts.
Hurts will test out his new weapons on Friday night against the Ravens.