Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is a part of a list that no NFL player wants to be on ahead of the 2026 regular season
Jalen Hurts has been the face of controversy for much of the offseason, and now he’s garnering a new label that no NFL player wants any part of.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has become one of the more polarizing players in the entire NFL. Despite being a bona fide MVP candidate in 2023 and winning a Super Bowl, there has long been a contingent of fans, media, and NFL personnel who believe that Hurts is a player whom you can win with, but not because of.
That storm really ratcheted up this offseason when ESPN released a feature detailing how some inside the locker room feel about Hurts as the starter. That makes it safe to say that Hurts is under a tremendous amount of pressure in 2026.
Jalen Hurts 2025 stats
- 3,224 yards passing.
- 25 touchdowns, 6 interceptions.
- 55.2 QBR.
Jalen Hurts is one of the NFL players under the most pressure to perform in 2026
“Hurts has already proven it’s possible to win with him at quarterback. The question is how sustainable it can be with his limitations as a passer. And it looks like that’s exactly what the Philadelphia Eagles are trying to find out this season. With Sean Mannion as the play-calling offensive coordinator, the Eagles’ offense is expected to attack the middle of the field more frequently, and that’s an area where Hurts barely tries.”
“Presumably without AJ Brown, but still with a viable group of pass-catchers with several newcomers, Hurts will have to show his ability to adapt to the new scheme. Otherwise, the Eagles will have to re-evaluate the idea of paying him $51.5 million per year moving forward.” – Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports
How Jalen Hurts can silence the doubters in 2026
As Ferreira alluded to, Brown is likely gone here in a few weeks. We know the Eagles traded up in what became the story of night one to select Makai Lemon. DeVonta Smith is still there, and despite the loss of Jeff Stoutland, the offensive line largely remains intact.
The simple answer for Hurts is to be more efficient. To show that in a new scheme that majors in under-center play action concepts, he can transform from being a dropback passer out of the gun to someone who can read and dissect with his back facing the defense.
If he does that, and the Eagles get back to winning in the postseason, I think it’s safe to say that Hurts will be back in the good graces of many in Philadelphoa and the league in general.