Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts offers his take on that mysterious illness

Those consistent performances at Philadelphia Eagles practice are showing up more and more often now for Jalen Hurts. Philly’s visiting the New York Jets at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey this week. On Tuesday, they beat up on the team wearing the wrong shade of green in the first of two joint practice sessions.

A walkthrough will follow on Thursday. Philly’s third and final preseason game is scheduled for Friday night at a venue the Birds visit annually, MetLife Stadium, home of both the New York Giants and New York Jets. Then, Philly can let the bodies heal for almost two weeks before they open a now-18-week and 17-game NFL regular season in Atlanta versus the Falcons.

Following Tuesday’s practice session, QB1 spoke with members of the media. It’s the first time any of us have heard from him following his absence from the Eagles’ second preseason game due to an illness, one that head coach Nick Sirianni said sent him to a medical facility for evaluation.

Hurts says he would have played through the pain had we been talking about a regular-season game.

The Philadelphia Eagles QB1 opens up about his illness.

Before anyone heard from QB1, it was actually a comment from Jalen Reagor that got everyone’s attention just moments before Hurts sat down. He said QB1 said “I’m in that mode” before throwing his headphones on.

Are you not entertained? It wasn’t long before the media asked him both about that and one of the more-talked-about illnesses Birds enthusiasts have discussed in quite some time. Here’s what QB1 said about being in his mode:

"(Laughs). He said that? Yeah, man. Call it what you want. I was just excited for practice and to be out here with my teammates (and to go) compete against the Jets."

Here’s Hurts’ take on what happened just prior to the Philadelphia Eagles’ game versus the New England Patriots.

"(Sitting out) was a precaution. We took precautions around the issues we were having, I was having, and I’m blessed to be okay right now… To be able to practice and talk to you guys again… I was having some pain that day… I didn’t know how long it would take… Thankfully, (my recovery came) sooner rather than longer."

Much has been made about whether or not his absence from the second preseason game robbed him of some valuable reps, but what would have gotten really? A series? Two maybe where he’s functioning at less than 100 percent?

It looks like the best decision was made, and QB1 appears to be back physically. Don’t take anyone else’s words for it though. Here’s what Jalen Hurts said. This should make you all feel better as we approach Philly’s third and final tilt before the roster is trimmed to 53 men.

"I’m good now… I was hurt for sure (that I couldn’t participate)… I was hurting you know. Sometimes, I truthfully tell what the problem is, if I have a problem. Sometimes, I don’t. I was debating on whether I wanted to say something about it or not. I said something with the intention of playing, but the signs were telling me ‘let’s be smart about this’. I’m thankful for the staff, and the decisions that they made. I’m here now practicing against the Jets, and I’m good."

For those who are curious, Hurts has looked sharp in his first practice sessions back versus his own secondary before Philly traveled to New Jersey and in the first joint practice following the Eagles’ arrival.

Whether or not Hurts will play in the finale or not or how much he’ll play is up in the air. In the meantime, we can all breathe a little easier that he’s okay. If we haven’t learned anything else from the preseason, it should be this. The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense will only fly as high as he’s able to carry them. Joe Flacco and Nick Mullens are definitely not the answer.