PHILADELPHIA — According to multiple reports over the past two weeks, some people within the Eagles’ organization have grown frustrated with quarterback Jalen Hurts’ play style and demeanor.
The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini reported on November 15 that some offensive players are disappointed with Hurts’ approach this season, particularly against zone coverage. They believe he’s hesitant throwing in tight windows and is leaning too much on check downs.
After the Eagles’ victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, NFL reporter Derrick Gunn reported that a “lot of people” in the organization are frustrated with the quarterback situation, describing Hurts as “Carson Wentz 2.0,” referencing Wentz’s reputation for being difficult to coach, a factor that led to the former Eagles quarterback’s downfall in Philadelphia.
The criticism arrives while the Eagles sit at 8-2, with Hurts having thrown 16 touchdowns against just one interception.
Hurts said Wednesday he’s not surprised by the criticism and won’t run away from it.
But his teammates aren’t buying the backlash.
“You’re not going to be liked by everybody,” Eagles cornerback Adoree’ Jackson told NJ Advance Media about the Hurts’ reports. “Jesus was hated too. You have to understand that you have to have thick skin, especially to be in this profession over here. … It just so happened that you are Jalen Hurts, the franchise quarterback of this organization. So it’s blown out of proportion. So I don’t think anything of it.”
Before passionately sharing his stance, Jackson noted that he admires how Hurts rebounded from losing his starting job at Alabama and went on to build a successful NFL career.
Because Hurts has thrived under pressure in the past, Jackson is confident his QB won’t be fazed by the latest scrutiny.
“He’s been through it,” Jackson said. “He’s battle tested and is built for this.”
Jackson believes Hurts’ dedication is what matters most. He said the quarterback pushes himself harder than anyone else in the weight room. On the field, Hurts has compiled a 54–22 record since becoming an NFL starter in 2020, leading the Eagles to two of the last three Super Bowls and winning one.
“When you see a motherf—er doing that, that’s how you know you’re a competitor and you want to win,” Jackson said. “It starts from there. So that’s where you see it. It starts from the weight room and with the unseen things.”
According to Gunn’s reporting, Hurts does not run the offense the way the coaches teach it.
A notion that starting right guard Tyler Steen disagrees with.
“He’s a quarterback, so he makes a lot of the calls,” Steen said. “But again, it’s the coaches, players, the staff, it’s all collaborative. So, yeah, I don’t get that critique.”
Backup quarterback Sam Howell said Hurts “takes ownership of the whole offense,” is accountable for his mistakes and finds solutions for their problems.
Despite the support from teammates, the Eagles’ offense has struggled under Hurts this season — ranking 25th in total yards (300.1 per game), 28th in passing (184.9 per game), 17th in rushing (115.2 per game) and 16th in scoring (23.4 per game) — and if the results don’t improve soon, more blame will be placed on Hurts.
“Just stick together and keep working,” Howell said about Hurts’ message to the team in the last couple of weeks. “Keep working at it, and the results will come.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
