Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t be any more similar (or different)

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts enters a season-long audition.

It’s rare that players are untouchable in today’s NFL. One day, you’re a starter. The next, there’s a one-way trip to the bench with your name on it. Then, there’s the pink slip.

Jalen Hurts is familiar with the ups and downs of playing quarterback. He’s lost his job to Tua on the national stage. He’s relieved an injured Tua in crisis. In 2020, he supplanted Carson Wentz as the starting quarterback in Philadelphia.

Here’s the thing. Ever since he earned the starting job, Hurts’ job has never seemed to guarantee any security. Philly always seems to be in search of his upgrade. This offseason, as a flurry of transition occurred, it was rumored that the Eagles attempted to find Hurts’ replacement but ultimately decided they had a quarterback who was solid enough.

Hurts may not have been a first-rounder. No one thought he was here to replace the franchise quarterback, which is enormous pressure in itself, but that’s how things turned out. A head coach’s success is often tied to the success of his quarterback, and that’s something Sirianni will have to think about.

Hurts has welcomed the challenge. This isn’t the first time he’s had his doubters. In his first full season at the helm, he led Philadelphia to a Wild Card appearance. What might he do for an encore?