It is Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season, and the spotlight is on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and how he responds against the Tennessee Titans.
Hurts put up respectable numbers in the Eagles' 24-22 Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders. He finished the game completing 15-of-24 for 203 yards and three touchdowns, adding another 46 yards on seven carries.
Hurts had some Superman moments in the Commanders game, and the Eagles need to see more of that against the Titans. What does this Week 2 showdown need to look like for Hurts, though?
What does a good Jalen Hurts Week 2 performance for the Eagles look like?
First off, the Eagles need to eliminate the five three-and-outs they had in the Commanders game. While most of that is on new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, Hurts is the quarterback on the field and needs to make sure that doesn't happen.
This will require Hurts to be more efficient with the football. Even if it means going with the easy short routes instead of the deep ball, the Eagles need their quarterback to be more consistent with his completions and keep the offense ahead of the chains.
Hurts has found plenty of success running the football when scrambling out of the pocket. Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons thinks making Hurts "be a QB" is the key to winning, but the Eagles signal-caller needs to keep doing what he does best. The quarterback position requires mobility and running from time to time, so Hurts bailed his offensive line out by doing his job, and he shouldn't change that.
One big thing Hurts would love to do, and needs to get done, is get DeVonta Smith more involved in the passing game. Smith is a top-10 receiver who hasn't been showcased because he gets forgotten too often. This is the type of game where Hurts could help Smith get over 100 yards receiving and score, so finding a way to get him involved without forcing the ball to him as he did with A.J. Brown last year will help this offense.
This might require some calculated deep shots to Smith that the Eagles need to take in the passing game. Hurts has had three passes for 30 or more yards, so those explosive plays will be key against the Titans' defense, which is subpar in the secondary right now.
A lot of what Hurts did last week has been examined and analyzed for what he could do better, but the most important thing he can do in this game, which he did so well against the Commanders, is protect the football. No one ever wants to give him credit for it, but Hurts turning the ball over is rarely the reason they lose a game, so he can't forget that part of his game.
Read more: Why Sean Mannion should be feeling more pressure with Eagles' offense in Week 2
If Hurts finishes with 250 passing yards and two or three touchdowns with zero turnovers, most Eagles fans would consider that a massive success for the team. Of course, the win is the most important thing, but progress in this offense for Hurts is just as important for the momentum to carry throughout the season.
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