Jalen Hurts: ESPN analyst believes Eagles will ‘ruin’ their QB

The hot topic of this Philadelphia Eagles team in 2021 is Jalen Hurts, and folks in Philly are bound to have some pretty wild opinions about the young quarterback.

Hurts has been a bullseye for controversy ever since he entered the NFL, and six weeks into the season, he’s still one of the most love-him-or-hate-him QBs in the league.

It’s difficult to diagnose exactly where the Eagles have gone wrong this season, but one NFL analyst claims the problem isn’t Hurts, and that Hurts has actually been performing fairly well given the circumstances.

During a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take, NFL analyst Ryan Clark had this to say:

"The Philadelphia Eagles are going to ruin Jalen Hurts. He’s accounted for 85 percent of the offense this year both in the run and in the pass…When I look at Jalen Hurts and some of the statistics he has been able to produce and the leadership qualities that this dude has, I believe in him."

That’s one vote of confidence for Hurts, though his critics are bound to show up at any minute now.

In Week 6’s game versus the Buccaneers, Hurts finished 12 of 26 for 115 yards. He tossed one touchdown and one interception. While Hurts’ accuracy from the pocket was put to the test, many questioned Sirianni’s play-calling in a game in which Miles Sanders only had nine carries. Keep in mind the fact that Hurts had ten.

Clark contends that Hurts has his deficiencies. The Eagles have several more, and one of the most glaring this season has been none other than head coach Nick Sirianni.

Are the Philadelphia Eagles sabotaging Jalen Hurts’ career in 2021?

"Is he Justin Herbert? No. Is he Joe Burrow? No. But those guys have wide receivers with experience, some players on the outside that we’ve seen make plays in this league. Jalen Hurts doesn’t have any of those things. Jalen Hurts has a first-year head coach who’s supposed to be this great play caller who isn’t calling plays in that manner right now. Jalen Hurts’ problem is not Jalen Hurts. It’s play-calling and the Philadelphia Eagles."

At first glance, it seems the Eagles franchise may very well be screwing Hurts over as the Jets did with Sam Darnold.

Hurts has a few capable wideouts in DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins, but Clark is on the nose when he not-so-subtly refers to “wide receivers with experience.” It doesn’t take a football analyst to see the difference between Smith and, say, Mike Williams.

And no one was happy about the way Sirianni called the game against Tampa. Why he doesn’t give more opportunities to Sanders is beyond us.

There will always be fans that Hurts can’t win over, just as there will always be fans that want Nick Sirianni’s head after every loss.

In reality, both Hurts and Sirianni share the blame for Philly’s poor performances as of late, but that leaves us….back at square one. The Eagles have to make some changes to turn their 2021 season around, and for some more quick-tempered Philly supporters, that could mean either firing Sirianni or replacing Hurts.

We suggest a milder alternative in diversifying the play-calling and giving Sanders (and Gainwell) more touches. Baby steps.