Jalen Hurts Pushes Back on Criticism: “I’ll Continue to Do Whatever It Takes to Win”
Jalen Hurts has heard the noise. Over the past few weeks, the Eagles quarterback has been at the center of swirling criticism - from questions about his rushing attempts to whispers of locker room tension. But on Thursday, Hurts stepped up to the mic and made one thing clear: he’s not backing away from his role in the Eagles' offense - and certainly not from running the football.
“How did we come to that conclusion or rationalize that?” Hurts said when asked about reports suggesting he’s shying away from designed runs. “I’ve always been focused on doing whatever it takes to win and I’ve always put my energy on trying to bring the gameplan and the strategy to life, so I’ll continue to do that.”
That’s vintage Hurts - calm, composed, and locked in on the mission. But the questions aren’t coming out of nowhere.
According to recent reports, including one from The Athletic, some players and coaches inside the Eagles building have expressed frustration with Hurts’ approach to the offense. Whether that’s about his decision-making, his mobility, or something else entirely, it’s created a buzz that’s hard to ignore.
There’s also been talk of tension between Hurts and star wideout A.J. Brown, who hasn’t been shy about his dissatisfaction with the offense this season. Through 11 games, Brown has still put up solid numbers - 699 receiving yards and six touchdowns - but it’s clear he’s not thrilled with how things have been trending.
And that frustration might be compounded by the Eagles’ recent skid. After dropping two straight - including a 24-15 loss at home to the Bears last week - the team is searching for answers. Still, at 8-4, they remain atop the NFC East and very much in the playoff picture.
Hurts’ numbers on the year are solid: 2,514 passing yards, 19 touchdowns through the air, plus 329 rushing yards and eight rushing scores. But the rushing attempts - particularly the designed QB runs that have been a staple of the Eagles’ offense - have noticeably dipped. That’s where former teammate and recently retired center Jason Kelce chimed in.
Speaking Wednesday on SportsRadio 94WIP, Kelce didn’t hold back in his assessment.
“It’s an unquestioned advantage to be able to do quarterback runs,” Kelce said. “I would like to see them do more QB runs, I’m not going to lie.
You get such better angles, the numbers are better, it makes life easy. It’s almost like cheating.”
And Kelce would know. He anchored an offensive line that helped turn Hurts into one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks.
The QB run game has long been a cheat code for Philly - a way to tilt the numbers, stress defenses, and open up the rest of the playbook. When Hurts is a true running threat, the Eagles’ offense just hits differently.
Against the Bears last week, Hurts showed flashes of that old form, throwing for 320 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-34 passing. But it wasn’t enough to stop the slide.
Now, with a Monday night matchup against the Chargers on deck, all eyes will be on how the Eagles - and Hurts - respond. Will we see more designed runs?
More tempo? More of the physical, ground-and-pound identity that’s defined this team in recent years?
Hurts isn’t giving away the gameplan, but he’s not ducking the responsibility either. He’s still the leader of this team, and if his words are any indication, he’s ready to do whatever it takes - with his arm, with his legs, and with the weight of a city on his shoulders.