The Eagles Face One Huge Question Around Jalen Hurts

With major changes in key offensive positions, the Eagles are banking on Jalen Hurts' resilience and new strategies to steer the team forward.

The Eagles’ offensive setup for Jalen Hurts landed right in the middle of the league in a recent CBS Sports ranking, a sign that there’s still plenty to sort out before anyone knows what this new Philadelphia offense really looks like.

Jared Durbin’s list of all 32 teams measured how each club has built around its quarterback, taking into account the playcaller, the pass-catchers, and the offensive line. Philadelphia came in 16th, tied with the Indianapolis Colts, who are now led by former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.

“The Colts and Eagles also ended up tied here, and this is a bit of a drop-off from where the Eagles usually sit in these rankings. But a first-time play caller (Sean Mannion) combined with the departure of the aforementioned A.J.

Brown knocked Philly's grades down in two important categories, and the offensive line and running backs couldn't prop the Eagles up any farther than this. Indy's advantage at play caller (Shane Steichen) helped make up for the Eagles' edge along the offensive line in the grading system.”

That first-time play-caller label matters here. Mannion is stepping into a major role for the first time, and while that naturally brings questions, the early buzz around the plans he’s put together has been positive. The Eagles also appear to be leaning into a deeper, more varied group of weapons, with DeVonta Smith among the players expected to carry more of the load.

The additions of Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks are part of that picture, too, along with the idea of a more balanced offense overall. On paper, the group has enough pieces to make noise.

Still, the biggest change is the one Philadelphia can’t ignore: A.J. Brown is gone. That leaves Smith and the rest of the receiving group with more responsibility, and it also helps explain why the Eagles didn’t land higher in the rankings.

Former Eagles cornerback Darius Slay recently pointed out that Hurts has already shown he can handle adversity, and that’s the central thread running through all of this. Hurts is coming off a difficult 2025 season, and the offense had its rough stretches, but the people around him are focused on moving forward rather than dwelling on what went wrong.

There’s no clean answer yet on whether the scheme fits Hurts or whether this version of the Eagles offense can click right away. For now, the uncertainty remains. Training camp will bring the first real clues, and the regular season will deliver the actual verdict.

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