The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL during the 2022 season. A big reason for that was the addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was acquired via trade from the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the draft.
Brown’s presence helped elevate the entire offense and enabled quarterback Jalen Hurts to take his game to another level. He set career highs across the board, becoming the most recent young quarterback to take off with the addition of a big-time receiver.
A lot was made of the improvements that Hurts had as a passer, and rightfully so. There were some major concerns when he finished his collegiate career about how effective he would be as a passer, but he has quieted those doubters rather quickly.
With his improvement through the air, he has become a more complete, dangerous player. What makes him so unique, however, is his legs and rushing ability. Hurts can take off at a moment’s notice and beat opposing defenses with his athleticism if they aren’t paying attention to him.
His strength and power as a runner are impressive for any player, let alone a quarterback. Head coach Nick Sirianni trusts Hurts so much that he essentially operated as the team’s short-yardage and red zone runner last season.
According to NFL Stats on Twitter, Hurts ran the ball 43 times inside the red zone last season, which was the most by a quarterback in a single season in league history. He finished the season with a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns and had 67 rushing first downs, showcasing just how efficient he is as a runner.
Overall, Hurts carried the ball 165 times for 760 rushing yards in 15 games. With Miles Sanders no longer in the mix at running back after signing a free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers, Hurts could see a steady amount of work once again in short-yardage situations.
Rashaad Penny and D’Andre Swift were both acquired this offseason to help offset the loss of Sanders. Both players are certainly capable of handling the ball in the money areas but don’t expect Sirianni to adjust things too much as Hurt has proven he can excel in such a role.
