Jalen Hurts Faces the Heat as Eagles' Offensive Struggles Spark Local Media Backlash
The Philadelphia Eagles are sitting in a pressure cooker right now, and the temperature just got turned up a few notches - not on offensive assistant Kevin Patullo this time, but squarely on quarterback Jalen Hurts. After a frustrating 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears on Black Friday, the conversation in Philly has shifted from play-calling to quarterback accountability, and Hurts is now at the center of it all.
For weeks, Patullo had been the lightning rod for criticism surrounding the Eagles' offensive inconsistencies. But this time, the local media turned its attention to the franchise quarterback - and they didn’t hold back.
The tipping point? Reports over the weekend that Hurts asked the team to dial back on quarterback-designed runs before the season began.
That revelation didn’t just raise eyebrows - it ignited a firestorm.
Local Media Sounds Off
Philadelphia sports radio, never known for subtlety, came back from the Thanksgiving holiday with plenty to say. SportsRadio 94 WIP led the charge, with multiple hosts and former players weighing in on what they see as a concerning trend with Hurts - both in his play and his approach.
Joe Giglio didn’t mince words, critiquing Hurts’ performance and decision-making on the field. Joe DeCamara went a step further, saying he’s placing more of the blame on Hurts than on the Eagles’ coaching staff.
“Let me be very clear,” DeCamara said. “I blame the quarterback a lot more than the two coaches.
I really do. I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me, and that’s fine.”
And then came the most pointed comments - from former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas. Douglas, never one to hold back, called out Hurts for what he sees as a disconnect between the quarterback’s public persona and his behind-the-scenes actions.
“If that’s true, then Jalen lied to us,” Douglas said, referencing the report that Hurts asked for fewer designed runs. “He lied to us because he said, and I quote, ‘I don’t care what it looks like as long as we win.’
And if that’s the truth, if that’s what’s going on, then you do care what it looks like - and you don’t care about winning as much as you’ve claimed that you did. That’s the bottom line.”
The Numbers Tell a Story
The criticism isn’t coming out of nowhere - Hurts’ recent play has left room for questions. Over the last four games, he’s struggled with accuracy, completing under 60% of his passes in three of those matchups. That’s a notable drop-off for a quarterback who had multiple games earlier this season with completion rates north of 70%.
And it’s not just the passing game. Hurts’ legs, once a defining part of his game, haven’t been as much of a factor.
He’s attempted 84 runs so far this season and is on pace for just 119 - which would be the lowest rushing attempt total of his career. Even more telling, he’s averaging just 3.9 yards per carry, tied for a career low.
For a quarterback who built much of his early success on being a dual-threat nightmare for defenses, those numbers are hard to ignore.
What Comes Next?
Whether or not Hurts actually requested fewer designed runs, the optics aren’t great - especially for a team that has struggled to find rhythm offensively. The Eagles have leaned heavily on Hurts’ legs in the past to keep drives alive and defenses off balance. If that element is being limited by design, it’s fair to wonder whether the offense is sacrificing one of its most potent weapons.
The bigger question now is whether Hurts will address the reports directly - and if he’s willing to adjust his game to help the team get back on track. With the NFC playoff picture tightening and expectations sky-high in Philadelphia, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Hurts has proven before that he can rise above criticism and lead. But with the spotlight now burning hotter than ever, how he responds - both on and off the field - could define the Eagles’ season.