Complaining after starting your championship defense campaign 2-0 seems surreal, yet here the Philadelphia Eagles are. Folks will always find something to nitpick, we suppose. This time, the "shortage" of planned rushing plays for superstar dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts is a hot-button topic.
On Wednesday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked about Hurts' perceived scarcity of non-scramble carries when addressing the media. By the sound of it, there doesn't appear to be much internal concern regarding the matter, if any. Moreover, it seems like the team is purposefully monitoring the Super Bowl LIX MVP's reps, so fans shouldn't lose sleep over this.
Nick Sirianni quells any concerns over Jalen Hurts' lack of designed rushing usage
"Again, that's two games in," Sirianni told reporters. "... We've got to remember that this is a 17-game season and not to overreact on things that have happened just through the first two games. We found ways to win the first two games. And we know we have to get better at a lot of things, but there's a progression to it. And so that's what our goal is and our focus is right now."
Sirianni used a whole bunch of words and coachspeak to basically say that the Eagles will rely on Hurts' legs more in due course. Nevertheless, the message was simple: slow and steady wins the race.
The NFL schedule is the polar opposite of a marathon. It's roughly four months of grueling, physically taxing, demanding football, and that's merely to reach the playoffs. The stakes and intensity only intensify from there for those lucky enough to survive and advance, which the Eagles expect to do.
With the bigger picture and back-to-back titles in mind, Sirianni and the Eagles ostensibly aren't throwing the entire kitchen sink at Hurts ... yet. At least not until someone forces them out of their comfort zone. That's much easier said than done against this loaded juggernaut of a squad.
For whatever it's worth, the numbers suggest Hurts' lack of intended running usage thus far this season is being blown out of proportion. His per-game rushing utilization aligns with (and even exceeds) what we've seen from him since becoming the Eagles' full-time starter in 2021. Perhaps those worried should take up another hobby, like reading or crocheting.
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Hurts leads all quarterbacks in designed rushing attempts through the first two weeks of this year with 23, per Pro Football Focus' premium stats ($). The Eagles are still actively involving him; they just aren't spamming his mobility, though that figures to be on tap.