Eagles’ Jalen Hurts on his limited workout: ‘The whole world knows that I’m dealing with something’
Hurts participated in a couple of individual drills Thursday but was using a towel to practice his throwing motion, rather than an actual football. He acknowledged that his shoulder is still healing.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts did not throw a football during the early portion of practice on Thursday.
Hurts participated in a couple of drills, although he never actually released the football, while backups Gardner Minshew and Ian Book threw. The 24-year-old Hurts labeled it as a precaution as he is still nursing an injury to his throwing shoulder that he suffered Dec. 18 at Chicago. Hurts missed the following two games — both losses — before returning in Week 18.
After the team’s victory over the Giants in the regular-season finale on Sunday, coach Nick Sirianni said that Hurts was “hurting like hell.” The Eagles clearly game-planned around Hurts’ injury. The third-year quarterback rarely rushed; in the few instances when he did, Hurts made a conscious effort to slide before contact.
At the conclusion of Thursday’s practice, Hurts reiterated his plans to be ready for the upcoming playoffs. As the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Eagles are beneficiaries of home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs, along with an opening-round bye.
“I think there’s a lot of times where there are challenges and different things thrown in front of you,” Hurts said. “Ultimately, you have to find a way to overcome it. That’s where my mind is right now. ... For us, we want to get better as a team. I really haven’t taken an off day since the [Bears] game. So it’s been daily deposits for me. We just want to attack.
“I’ve always been a man that has embraced everything thrown my way, and trying to find ways to overcome it and make it happen. There are different challenges. You have to find a way to look yourself in the face. I’m fortunate to be where I am now and also see how far we’ve come as a team.”
Hurts is hoping to re-instill confidence regarding his strength and health to offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and Sirianni. In order to advance far into the postseason, the Eagles need Hurts at his best as a dynamic, dual-threat quarterback. When he’s on top of his game, the Eagles are an explosive offense, with defensive coordinators needing to account for Hurts’ speed and playmaking ability. But against the Giants, Hurts became one-dimensional as a more traditional pocket passer, which allowed the opposition to disregard his ability to tuck the football and scramble, specifically with run-pass options.
“He came out sore, as expected,” Sirianni said. “He came out of that game sore because it’s still healing, right? We didn’t feel like we were putting him at any more risk of getting more injured, but we knew it was going to hurt him like hell; he knew it was going to hurt him like hell.
“That’s the kind of player he is; that’s the kind of teammate he is. He fought through it because it was important for him to be out there; he knew how important it was for him and his teammates to be out there.”
Hurts concluded the regular season with 3,701 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions with a .665 completion percentage. He also rushed for 760 yards and a franchise-record 13 touchdowns on the ground.
The third-year quarterback continues to receive round-the-clock treatment and rehab. After a majority of his teammates departed the facility on Thursday afternoon, Hurts lingered. He was seen working out with trainers in the weight room with an emphasis on improving his core. Hurts also sported a Kobe Bryant-themed Eagles T-shirt.
He acknowledged he’ll need to channel his inner “Mamba Mentality” for the playoffs.
“Just taking it day-by-day. I think the whole world knows that I’m dealing with something. ... This is not the first time I haven’t been [100% healthy],” Hurts said. “It’s happened a number of times before. It’s just that this time it’s a very public [story]. So I’ve been able to navigate it and get my mind right. It takes what it takes to be fully ready.”
After their playoff bye week, the top-seeded Eagles will host the Buccaneers, Cowboys, Giants, or Seahawks in a divisional-round game on Jan. 21 or 22 at Lincoln Financial Field.
“Just being in the Linc, having our home fans here,” Hurts said. “Being in this city, in Philly, I’m excited to see the atmosphere. I know it’s going to be electric. ... Essentially, to be in the position we’re in right now — it comes from the work. There’s nothing more to it than being ourselves.”
He concluded: “We have to be unwavering and diligent through this whole process. Nothing changes now.”