Jalen Hurts is still smarting from his 2023 experience with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles quarterback hit a brick wall last year along with his team. After reaching the Super Bowl in 2022, Hurts played in just one playoff game last year. The biggest question is whether he can rebound this year.
However, what does that mean? Here’s a look at three ways the quarterback’s erosion is likely to continue.
Jalen Hurts’ Tush Push becomes a non-factor
Last year, the Eagles’ “Tush Push” was a key topic of conversation, as short-yardage situations became essentially automatic conversions. However, center Jason Kelce retired during the offseason. The team’s center was key in helping generate the push to convert the first down. With him gone, the Eagles learn the hard way that they can’t convert without him while using that play.
As such, the team becomes forced to rely on the conventional quarterback sneak with a conventional conversion rate. However, over the course of several games ultimately lost because of this lesson, Hurts gets backed into a corner.
Jalen Hurts continues rushing decline
Over the last three seasons, Hurts has seen a clear decline when it comes to running the football himself. Hurts has seen a decline by multiple metrics over the past few seasons. The quarterback rushed for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021. Then, he rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022. Following that, he rushed for 605 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023.
While it can be argued that his rushing touchdowns increased, the majority of those scores have come from the Tush Push. With that a non-factor this season, Hurts’ numbers in this area will plummet. Hurts’ rushing yardage totals have been on a decline since 2022, so this will continue in an alarming wake-up call this year.
Jalen Hurts throws as many touchdowns as interceptions
Hurts also saw his touchdown-to-interception ratio take a hit last season. In 2022, he threw for 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. Then, in 2023, he threw for 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His yardage has increased year over year, but his most important ratio has taken a strong hit.
This year, the pattern will be no different. Hurts will take another hit in the category, despite working with an electric surrounding cast. Not even the likes of Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith will be enough to prop him up, which will raise massive questions following the season.
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