PHILADELPHIA – Winger Jalen Hurts remains the Eagles’ starting quarterback after a season of speculation surrounding his position, and he seemed confident in his position when speaking to reporters Wednesday.
“That got it. It’s my chance, it’s my team,” he said when asked about the public support from general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni in recent weeks. “It’s my team, so we’re ready to go.”
Keeping three first-round picks into the April drafts, the Eagles look well positioned in exchange for a veteran quarterback like Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson and do their homework before landing in Denver and Cleveland, respectively. It remains to be seen whether the Eagles have a long-term commitment to the Hurts. They traded one of their first rounds with New Orleans Saints in a deal that garners the first pick in 2023, is expected to boast a quality midfield class.
“It’s the stuff you’re all talking about. Everything’s good here,” Hurts said. But comrades Brandon Graham indicated that Hurts heard the noise.
“Of course it can happen to him. But I feel he’s mature enough to be able to handle that if that’s what’s happening because he hasn’t shown me that he’s. worrying about too much other than trying to prove it all wrong,” Graham said.
The addition of the receiver AJ Brown should help in that effort. Eagles buying Brown from Tennessee Titans for the first and third picks on Thursday. Brown said Hurts put an “error in [the Eagles’] ear” to try and trade him. Hurts and Brown were best friends and now teammates for the first time.
“He’s always been a brilliant player since I knew him in college,” Hurts said. “He’s always had the ability to take the ball with the ball in his hand, use his body, take out defenders, block. He’s a great addition to the great studio we have. now, and I’m so excited.”
Hurts, 23, led the Eagles to the knockout stages in his first year as a full-time starter last season. He completed 61.3% of his throws in 3,144 yards with 16 touchdowns (nine interceptions) while dashing for 784 yards and 10 TDs.
He spent part of off-season training in Southern California, using what he describes as a holistic approach involving everything from offense command to nutrition.
“I think this is an exciting time to be an Eagle,” he said. “From what we were able to accomplish and get over last year, I think there’s a lot to look forward to. One thing I’ve told you is that the groundwork has been established, the standard has been set, and only direction is climbing.
“The message has been, simply, the only direction is to rise up.”
