Eagles, Jalen Hurts, and the Quiet Shift in the Ground Game: What's Really Going On?
There’s been a noticeable shift in the way the Eagles are using Jalen Hurts this season - and it’s not just fans picking up on it. The quarterback who once carved up defenses with his legs is running the ball less than ever before, and the numbers are starting to tell a story that’s hard to ignore.
Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the change when asked about Hurts’ reduced rushing workload. His response? It’s all about protecting the franchise quarterback for the long haul.
“We’re always thinking about how to protect Jalen and make sure that he is healthy for the long haul,” Sirianni said. “Different plans have different reasons of why you run different things.”
Translation: Yes, Hurts is still a weapon on the ground, but the Eagles are trying to be strategic - if not cautious - with how often they unleash him as a ball carrier.
Sirianni pointed out that Hurts still plays a key role in the run game, even when he’s not the one carrying the ball. Whether it’s holding backside defenders on zone reads or simply being a threat that defenses have to respect, Hurts’ presence alone can open up lanes for others. But when it comes to actual quarterback runs, the Eagles are clearly dialing things back.
“There are quarterback runs you can run that are a little more safe than another quarterback run,” Sirianni explained. “But it’s still football and you still have a risk with every snap that you take.”
That’s the balancing act: maximizing Hurts’ impact while minimizing his exposure to hits. But here’s where it gets interesting - and where the numbers start to push back a bit on that approach.
The Eagles are 13-0 in regular season games when Hurts runs the ball 14 or more times. In the postseason, they’re 3-1 when he logs at least 10 carries.
That’s not a coincidence. That’s a trend.
And it’s one that paints a pretty clear picture: when Hurts is active in the run game, the Eagles win.
This season, in the team’s four losses, Hurts has averaged just five carries per game. That’s a steep drop-off from the aggressive, dual-threat style that helped elevate the Eagles to the top of the NFC.
It’s not just about the raw rushing yards either - it’s about what Hurts’ mobility does for the entire offense. It forces defenses to account for him on every snap, opens up play-action, and gives the Eagles a physical edge that few teams can match when he’s fully unleashed.
There’s also a quiet narrative starting to bubble up - one that draws a parallel between Hurts and another Eagles quarterback who saw his rushing numbers dip as his career progressed: Donovan McNabb.
It’s not a perfect one-to-one comparison, but the timelines are strikingly similar. McNabb’s fifth full season as a starter came in 2004, at age 28.
Hurts is in his fifth full season now, at 27. And just like Hurts, McNabb’s rushing attempts began to decline right around that point in his career.
Of course, 2004 was also the year McNabb got Terrell Owens - a legitimate WR1 who changed the dynamic of that offense. That context matters. But the broader point remains: even quarterbacks known for their legs tend to evolve, whether by design, necessity, or both.
So where does that leave the Eagles?
They're walking a tightrope. On one hand, they want to preserve their quarterback’s health and longevity.
On the other, they know what kind of juice Hurts brings when he’s a full-on dual threat. The numbers don’t lie - the team is more dangerous when Hurts is running.
Sirianni says the coaching staff is constantly evaluating how to strike that balance. “We’re looking at everything, and we’ll see how that looks going forward,” he said.
That’s coach-speak for: nothing is off the table. And with the playoff push heating up, don’t be surprised if the Eagles start leaning a little more on what’s worked in the past - letting Jalen Hurts be Jalen Hurts.
Because when he’s running with confidence and conviction, this offense doesn’t just move - it punishes.