Eagles expect Jalen Hurts to take 'another leap' in 2023
The Philadelphia Eagles expect even bigger things from quarterback Jalen Hurts in 2023. Although he’s coming off a monster year last fall, the organization believes he will only get better when the NFL season kicks off.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler joined Get Up to talk about Philadelphia’s addition of D’Andre Swift — acquiring the running back via a trade with the Detroit Lions during the NFL Draft. While the Eagles are excited about their backfield next year, they’re not backing off expectations for Hurts.
“They also expect that Hurts can make another major jump,” Fowler said. “He’s done it every year. They believe he can be one of those elite, precision-type pocket passers.”
Hurts enjoyed the best year of his career statistically in 2022. He threw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing more than 66% of his passes. All of those numbers were career-highs for the former Alabama and Oklahoma star.
His 13 rushing touchdowns were also a career-best. Hurts added 760 yards on the ground, the second-best total of his three seasons in Philly.
After leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl LVII appearance, Hurts agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $255 million with $179.304 million guaranteed. When asked why he didn’t request more in guaranteed money, the quarterback provided the perfect response.
“Money is nice,” Hurts said. “Championships are better.”
In addition to Hurts, Eagles excited about RB room
Yes, the Eagles expect a lot out of Hurts and the quarterback position in 2023. It’s only fair after signing him to a huge contract. But the franchise also believes good things are coming from the running back room this fall.
The addition of Swift is a huge reason for that.
“I’m hearing that the Eagles are really excited about the acquisition of running back D’Andre Swift from a pass-catching standpoint,” Fowler said. “This is a player who, in Detroit, could get you 50-plus catches in a year. Eagles running backs did not have a player with more than 23 catches a year ago.
“So, expect some designed, easier throws out of the backfield for Jalen Hurts.”
Over his three years in Detroit, Swift totaled 156 receptions out of the backfield for 1,198 yards and seven touchdowns. That’s in addition to 1,680 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
Now that he’s joining a prolific offense in Philadelphia, expectations are growing higher for the running back.