The latest update from a Philadelphia Eagles practice this week isn’t any brighter than the picture projected last week at the start of OTAs. This spring, quarterback Jalen Hurts has struggled to find his stride. Fortunately, the Eagles’ $51 million-per-year gunslinger has several months to work things out before the season begins.
Kenny Pickett outperformed Jalen Hurts last week.
As previously discussed on GH, Kenny Pickett outperformed Hurts during practice last week:
Ed Kracz of Eagles Today said in his “overreactions” blog that Pickett outperformed Hurts during OTA drills this week:
“The backup quarterback looked sharp, sharper than Jalen Hurts, to be honest.” Hurts was accurate on his first two seven-on-seven attempts, hitting A.J. Brown on a short inside slant and then connecting with a lovely sideline throw about 15 yards downfield. However, Pickett was consistently accurate. If Hurts goes down, the Eagles can still win games with him.
Pickett didn’t improve this week.
One item was different this week. Pickett struggled. According to Brooks Kubena with The Athletic, Pickett didn’t play as well during Thursday’s practice that was open to the media:
“Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who threw the practice’s only touchdown pass last week, was less sharp on Thursday. He overthrew tight end Albert Okwuegbunam on a short out to the right sideline.”
The Philadelphia Eagles defense is eating from Hurts’ hand.
While the Eagles QB2 is playing like a QB2, their QB1 isn’t playing like a QB1 one yet. Per Kubena, Hurts hasn’t completed “an explosive pass of significance” in the two practice sessions open to the media during OTAs in May. Worse, Hurts was picked multiple times on Thursday:
“In addition to the pick-six Hurts threw to Rodgers, Hurts was intercepted one other time during Thursday’s drills. He tried to force a crosser to A.J. Brown into a crowded middle. The ball was expectedly batted by several defenders until linebacker Zach Baun corralled it for an interception.
Hurts did attempt a deep ball: Ringo, covering Parris Campbell tightly, jumped and deflected the challenge.”
After a humbling 2023 season, Eagles fans hoped Hurts would return to his near-MVP form from the 2022 season. After all, the Eagles have invested heavily in his success this offseason. OTAs aren’t everything, but these reports might keep some fans up at night. They’ll sleep better if Hurts plays better in September.
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