After the first preseason game, doubts continue about the young QB as the veteran shines
Jalen Hurts has been one of the more polarizing topics of the 2021 NFL preseason. After putting up ridiculous numbers in college, the doubts about being undersized weren't stymied for the second round pick in his brief four game debut, as his effectiveness was limited to what he could do with his legs. In the offseason, the Eagles brought in seasoned veteran Joe Flacco to provide some backup to the volatile young QB, but after the first preseason game, has Hurts already lost the starting job in the eyes of Eagles fans?
Thursday evening the Steelers and the Eagles faced off in Philadelphia, with the Steelers erasing a first half deficit and winning the game 24-16. Hurts started the game and went 3/7 for 54 yards and added a rush for 4 yards in 2 drives (10 snaps). 18 yards per completion is pretty stellar but also indicates a reliance on risky big throws over basic passing ability (hence the 3/7 stat line). Meanwhile, Joe Flacco entered the game after Hurts and posted a 10/17, 178 yards and a touchdown stat line. The touchdown was a huge 79-yard pass to young WR Quez Watkins, but even without that huge play Flacco was the poster-boy of veteran efficiency and that's the kind of consistency Eagles fans aren't seeing from Hurts.
Flacco doesn't stand much chance of starting for Philadelphia week 1, but between head coach Nick Sirianni's reluctance to name a definitive starter and the overall lackluster response to Hurts in the first place, every solid preseason performance by Flacco just keeps the waters muddy in Philly.