The Philadelphia Eagles stunned the NFL world by selecting Jalen Hurts with their second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. While most have expected him to take on a Taysom Hill-like role in his rookie season, Hurts actually might not see the field early in 2020.
Philadelphia Eagles likely to take ‘conservative approach with Jalen Hurts, rookie unlikely to see the field
Hurts proved at Oklahoma that he is an exceptional athlete with improving skills as a passer. While some speculation hinted that he could be used as a running back this upcoming season, the latest out of Philadelphia paints a much different picture.
According to Mike Kaye of NJ.com, the Eagles view Hurts as a genuine quarterback and the organization wants to work conservatively with his development. As Kaye notes, the team’s history of taking it slow with rookies and giving them time to learn on the practice field is a strong indicator of what might be coming.
Furthermore, NFL players likely won’t return to team facilities until the middle of July when training camp begins. Even if rookies are allowed to report sooner, Hurts will still be behind schedule from rookie quarterbacks in normal circumstances. As a result, the rookie’s time to work with coaches and practice with the team will be extremely limited.
The Eagles already have a solid option behind Carson Wentz in Nate Sudfeld. As a result, the coaching staff could keep Hurts on the sideline to begin his rookie season.
At some point we might see Hurts used in packages with Doug Pederson finding ways to get the football in his hands. Unfortunately, football fans must wait much longer before that happens. Fortunately, that might be just what Hurts needs to develop and reach his potential.