Jalen Hurts didn’t need much time at the podium to make his point: the Eagles’ offensive line is in the middle of a major reset, but he’s not backing away from the group or from the people who just left it.
Philadelphia’s front took a jolt on Sunday when Lane Johnson was a sudden scratch only hours before the Eagles met the Los Angeles Rams. Forty-eight hours later, Johnson announced his retirement. The next day brought another shakeup, with center Cam Jurgens dealt to the Baltimore Ravens for draft picks.
By Wednesday, Hurts was addressing a unit that looks very different from the one the Eagles expected to roll with just days earlier, and he did it with clear appreciation for both departing linemen.
“You can’t replace what we’ve done and all the things that we’ve accomplished together,” Hurts said. “The memories, got a lot of love for Lane and Cam, and I have a lot of gratefulness and appreciation for the time that we spent together, the games we played together, the adversity we overcome, and so I wish them nothing but the best with my sincerest heart”
The timing could hardly be worse for an offense already trying to claw its way out of an early-season mess. The Eagles enter Week 5 as one of the worst offenses in the league, and they’re still without former Crimson Tide offensive lineman Landon Dickerson, who remains sidelined with an injury.
Sunday’s loss didn’t exactly ease the concern. The Eagles went 0 for 12 on third-down attempts and blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Their second-half issues have lingered all season, and the injury situation hasn’t helped, with Devonta Smith and Saquon Barkley both not practicing on Wednesdays.
Even with all of that stacked against them, Hurts said he likes the group that’s still in the building.
“I feel good about the guys that we have” Hurts said. “I feel good about the work that we’re putting forward, and the week will tell how much that’ll improve.”
There’s another layer to the challenge, too: the offense isn’t just dealing with personnel changes up front, it’s doing it under a new coordinator. That could make any cleanup job more complicated, but Hurts has made it clear where he stands with Sean Mannion.
“Sean’s a warrior, a soldier.” Hurts said.
“And obviously these times are where times you get to build with someone and go through things with someone, and I think that builds an equity in everything that we do together. And so, I’m excited to go to bat with him.”
Now the task shifts to turning all that belief into something cleaner on the field. Hurts, Mannion, and a reworked offensive line get that chance Sunday morning in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Alabama-Georgia Now Has A Storm Threat Fans Can't Ignore
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The forecast calls for heavy rain and gusty winds in central Alabama from Friday into Saturday, with the storm expected to reach the Alabama coast early Saturday morning. For now, the game time is unchanged, but the weather picture could make for a messy build-up to one of the weekends biggest games. [Read more 🡒]