Jalen Hurts is playing to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ face of the franchise this year. After many were pushing the team to select, sign, or trade for a starting-caliber signal-caller during the offseason, Philly instead handed the keys to the second-year QB. Hurts missed the Eagles’ Week 13 contest due to an ankle injury but has a Week 14 bye to heal up. Will Hurts miss any more games, and can he secure his spot as the franchise’s QB1 — at least for 2022?
Jalen Hurts was sidelined with an ankle injury in Week 13
Hurts suffered a high ankle sprain in an ugly 13-7 divisional loss to the Giants in Week 12. While his injury likely affected his play, Hurts had his worst game as a pro — 14-of-31 for 129 yards, zero touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. High ankle sprains can be tricky, especially for a mobile passer like Hurts. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray dealt with a similar injury earlier in the season, missing three games.
However, Hurts’ sprain was a Grade I, meaning there was minor stretching or tearing of the ligaments, but they are were still intact. Grade I sprains typically require 2-4 weeks of recovery, but no one told Hurts. He registered three straight limited practices before Philly’s Week 13 clash with the New York Jets, leading to a questionable tag. On Wednesday of last week, Sirianni stated he was “hopeful” Hurts would take the field. Later that day, the Eagles QB responded by saying he was “ready to go.”
Gardner Minshew gets the start against the Jets
Nevertheless, the team deemed it wasn’t worth the risk and declared him out. I’m sure playing the now 3-9 Jets weighed into the decision. As a result, backup QB Gardner Minshew received the first start of his Eagles career.
Minshew stepped in and had himself a day, completing 20 of 25 passes (80%) for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. In fact, that was the first time a Philadelphia QB has completed 80% or more of their passes in a single game since Nick Foles did so in Week 17 of … 2018. Yikes.
But don’t get too caught up in #MinshewMania. After the game, Sirianni explained, “I think he’s [Hurts] played really good football. There’s been times when he’s been one of the best in the league. The way he’s moved around, made plays, we look at that quarterback rating and what he’s had there. He’s played really good football when he’s in. So when he’s healthy and he’s back, he’ll be our starter.”
Additionally, FOX Insider Jay Glazer reported the Eagles’ locker room is “completely bought-in” on Hurts as the starter. There isn’t a QB controversy in Philly, no matter how much the media and the Twitter-sphere wish there was.
The Eagles need their QB1 for a playoff push
Hurts was close to returning last week, and had it been a high-stakes game against a more difficult opponent, I think he would’ve suited up. With an extra week to recover thanks to a Week 14 bye, Hurts should start in Week 15 against the Washington Football Team — barring any setbacks, of course.
It’s unclear how his mobility will be impacted, which is crucial for Hurts’ style of play. While he can sling it, his rushing ability is a significant portion of his game and keeps defenses honest. The Eagles are 6-7 and third in the NFC East. Yet, they are only a half-game behind Washington, the sixth seed in the conference.
If Philadelphia wants to punch a ticket into the postseason, they will most likely need to go 3-1 or 4-0 in their final four games. That final gauntlet consists of Washington, the Giants, Washington again, and a season finale at home against the Cowboys. Can Hurts lead his squad to the promised land?
Hurts can and should be Philadelphia’s starter for this year and beyond
His 60.1% completion rate (28th among 32 QBs) in 2021 doesn’t inspire confidence, neither does his 6.9 yards per pass attempt (t-22nd). But his completion rate is actually 8 percentage points higher than his rookie campaign. Additionally, while his yards per attempt are a tad low, he’s tied for the fifth-highest average depth of target (aDOT) in the league with Bills QB Josh Allen (9.3).
Growth is growth, and Hurts has looked much more poised under center this year. Still, he is holding on to the ball longer than any other QB and has only thrown 13 TDs to 8 INTs on the year. But we haven’t accounted for Hurts’ biggest weapon — his legs. He’s rushed 78 times (second) for 693 yards (second) and 8 scores (first). Hurts isn’t just scrambling for yards and sliding, either. He makes defenders miss in the open field and has the most carries of 10+ yards at the position (27).
If Hurts can maintain his success on the ground while connecting on more deep shots, the Eagles could make some noise down the stretch. As for 2022 and beyond, Hurts can be the future in the City of Brotherly Love. He has work to do as a passer, beginning with getting the ball out quicker. But the foundation is there, and Hurts has proven time and time again to be a relentless competitor. Now, it’s up to him to realize his potential.