PHILADELPHIA – Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has instructed the team to prioritize the success of Jalen Hurts in 2021 instead of creating a true quarterback competition, sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Hurts is currently the only quarterback hired in Philadelphia. More quarterbacks will be added, but Lurie wants her staff to build around Hurts and determine if he is the answer to move forward, sources said.
Appearing on the Adam Schefter Podcast, Hurts said he sees the Eagles’ decision to switch Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason as a vote of confidence in him moving forward.
“I think it was just an opportunity for me,” Hurts said in his first public comments from the trade, when asked if he was surprised when he heard the news from Wentz. “I think it shows confidence and what they think I can be as a player, so I want to give them the reason.”
Philadelphia agreed to change Wentz to Indianapolis last month for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional second-round pick that could become a first-round pick. The transaction will become official when the league year begins on March 17th.
The relationship between Wentz and the Eagles strained during a rocky 2020 season in which Wentz struggled badly before being replaced by Hurts, the team’s second-round pick last April, for the final four games. . Once it became clear that Wentz preferred to continue his career elsewhere, the wheels were set in motion to treat him.
One of the reasons Philadelphia felt comfortable negotiating with Wentz was the presence of Hurts, who provoked an offensive when he was inserted into the lineup and helped secure an annoying victory against the New Orleans Saints in the his first career start. The wounds cooled a bit during the stretch and ended with a 52% completion percentage and six touchdowns to four interceptions as they rushed to 354 yards and three touchdowns.
The Eagles will be added to the free agency and / or draft position, but as it stands, Hurts enters the 2021 season as the presumed starter.
“I think, you know, nothing changes for me or my mindset, going every day trying to improve as a player,” he said. “Be the best leader I can be. Impact on the guys around me and ultimately it’s just about winning football games and being consistent and doing that, so my mindset doesn’t alter one bit.
The Eagles hold the No. 6 overall pick in the draft and could be in the market for a receiver. Two of the first steps in the draft category, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, were Hurts teammates in Alabama.
“I just saw something about Waddle saying he’s different … and he’s different. You know he’s a devil player, a big friend of mine, a little brother to me,” Hurts said. “I mean, the things you can do with the ball in your hands, your speed, athletics, there’s nothing you can’t do. And DeVonta Smith is like a soft criminal … such a smooth road runner , he attacks the ball, strong hands … he is very strong with his hands. He himself is a hell of a player “.