With Jalen Hurts’ health in question, Eagles need to worry about more than passing game

Nick Sirianni corrected the phrasing.

A reporter asked the head coach how his Philadelphia Eagles responded after losing franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion.

Hurts sustained a concussion in the first quarter of a 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, leaving Kenny Pickett to play relief after just four passes.

“What about adjusting on the fly when Kenny comes in?” the reporter asked. “Because he’s obviously a much different quarterback than Jalen as far as being a plus-one [able to pass and run].”

Sirianni didn’t touch the end of the query. He instead honed in on the beginning.

“There’s nothing we leave to ‘something we do on the fly,’” Sirianni said. “There are times we have to adjust certain things, but we go into the game with a plan if that were to happen. We go into a game with a plan if [two quarterbacks] were to go down.

“That’s not something that’s an on-the-fly thing.”

If the response bordered on sensitivity, Sirianni may have reason for that. Head coaches will rarely say out loud that losing their starting quarterback cost them a game. Sirianni instead repeatedly emphasized accountability across the team and particularly on him as head coach.

And yet, what Sirianni didn’t say came across as loudly as what he did say: No matter how well the Eagles plan for the loss of their franchise quarterback, their backups will not be able to replicate the dual-threat ability Hurts brings.

Pickett does not have Hurts’ arm and he does not have Hurts’ long-established chemistry with targets including A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Pickett does not receive regular practice reps with either one, he confirmed, the quarterback also reminding reporters that offensive coordinator Kellen Moore had not previously called a game with Pickett in charge of executing.

The nuance matters because even if Sunday’s adaptations against the Commanders enable the Eagles to be more prepared for a Pickett return than they were in his…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/with-jalen-hurts-health-in-question-eagles-need-to-worry-about-more-than-passing-game-042751805.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-23 04:27:00

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