Eagles’ Jalen Hurts ‘Sharp’ In Return To Practice Ahead Of Wild Card Round

Two offensive linemen described Jalen Hurts as “sharp” in his return to practice Wednesday. Hurts has missed the last two weeks after suffering a concussion in Week 16 against the Commanders.

“He looked sharp, I’ll be honest,” offensive tackle Jordan Mailata told NBC Sports. “He looked really sharp, brought a lot of energy. He was out there in short sleeves. I’ve been in his position before with a concussion, and when you miss time, you try and find ways to get back as fast as you can, but I think he did a great job of dealing with that and coming back as sharp as he did today and I thought he had a phenomenal practice.”

Fellow offensive lineman Lane Johnson used the same word to describe Hurts at practice, suggesting that he is prepared for the postseason.

Along with newly acquired running back Saquon Barkley, Hurts helped lead the Eagles back into Super Bowl contention in 2024. After a humiliating collapse and playoff loss against the Buccaneers to end the 2023 season, Philadelphia went 14-3 to earn the second seed this year. Hurts threw for 2,903 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 starts, proving to be an effective complement to Barkley as the team turned more toward the running game. 

His 2024 season was not without its frustrating moments for Hurts, who was criticized for failing to find wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith at several low points early in the year. His part in the team’s success eventually became undeniable, however, as the Eagles won 10 straight games between October and mid-December. The streak only ended in a 36-33 defeat against the Washington Commanders; the game Hurts exited in the first quarter.

A late quarterback setback often proves deadly for a team’s playoff hopes, as it often leads to a stark momentum shift. That may not be the case this time around, though, as Philadelphia still finished the season strong. If Hurts can regain his form from before the concussion, the team should be able to take down the seventh-seeded Packers in advance. Even if he isn’t quite prepared out of the gate, Barkley figures to play a major role out of the backfield, which could give him more time to adjust.

Two seasons ago, Hurts was crowned an elite franchise quarterback when he took the Eagles to the Super Bowl. People were just as quick to take that title away from him when the team skidded down the stretch last year. With Barkley rushing for 2,000 yards in his first season away from the Giants, Hurts has not taken the lion’s share of credit for the team’s resurgence to this point, but his previous playoff success could make him a priceless asset in the next few weeks.

Article by Patrick Moquin