Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones swap praises ahead of Week 1 matchup
Five years ago, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones were teammates. Now, the two former Alabama Crimson Tide-turned-NFL Pro Bowl QBs take the field against each other. While speaking to the media ahead of their Week 1 matchup, both players spoke highly of each other. “Mac has always been […]
Five years ago, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones were teammates.
Now, the two former Alabama Crimson Tide-turned-NFL Pro Bowl QBs take the field against each other.
While speaking to the media ahead of their Week 1 matchup, both players spoke highly of each other.
“Mac has always been a great competitor,” Hurts said in his press conference on Wednesday. “He had a hunger for the game. Just learning and always challenging himself.”
Hurts and Jones spent two seasons together at Alabama. Jones was a redshirt freshman when they first met, while Hurts was a junior and backed up Tua Tagovailoa at the time before he transferred to Oklahoma in 2020.
Despite being teammates for only two years, it still was enough time for Jones to learn some things from the future NFC Champion.
“Obviously a great player,” Jones said of Hurts in his Thursday press conference. “I’ve been [fortunate] to play with him and I learned a lot from him. Definitely a great quarterback, and I just think back on the times we had. I’m just really proud of him and everything he’s done in the NFL.
“I think there is a lot of learning lessons. I definitely took a lot of that, loved to see him bounce back and do a great job. In college, he went through a lot, transferred, and played well everywhere he’s been. It’s just who he is, it’s Jalen Hurts.
"He’s just a great player, great person, and a good friend."
Once Sunday's matchup is in the rearview, Hurts wishes nothing but the best for his former Crimson Tide teammate.
"I’m looking forward to him doing big things this year," Hurts said.
Watch the two Alabama QBs square off Sunday at Gillette Stadium at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Final injury report for Eagles vs. Patriots, Week 1
The Eagles are very healthy.
Featured image by Justin Robertson-USA TODAY NETWORK
