Jalen Hurts heads into Eagles quarterback competition, which he needs to do to earn a job

Jalen Hurts will certainly be in quarterback competition with Carson Wentz this offseason, the first under new Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, as the franchise has yet to decide whether Wentz or Hurts will be the starting quarterback for. the 2021 season. The Eagles remain without a commitment to Wentz despite four years and a cap of $ 132 million.

Hurts can only control what he can control, as the Eagles’ starting quarterback position is undecided – a competition he’s ready to embrace.

“That’s a great question,” said Hurts, interviewed on CBS Sports HQ Tuesday. “I put the work on my side. I try to build relationships with my guys. I just try to take the next step. Either way, I challenge myself to be the best. quarterback I can be.

“Learn from my mistakes as a team, learn from my mistakes last year. These four games got me wet my feet and got off the ground next year.”

Hurts started four games for the Eagles after being used in a Taysom Hill-like role in the first 12 games of the season, throwing just three assists before replacing Wentz permanently in Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers. In his four starts, Hurts completed 51.9% of his passes (69 for 133) for 919 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions for a rating of 77.2 passers. Hurts also had 46 carries for 272 yards and three touchdowns in those four starts.

There’s a lot to do for the Hurts in Year 1 through Year 2, which is key to winning the Eagles quarterback job. There is still a lot of work to be done to become the next starting quarterback.

“Just just improve every part of my game,” Hurts said of what he needs to do to win the job. “Building relationships with the coaches that we have, seeing how they see it is always essential. Creating an identity and how they want to go about it. That’s a big point for me and it will help me as well. than as a player. “

Competition is nothing new for Hurts, who always seems to be competing for a job. Hurts was Alabama’s starting quarterback before being replaced by Tua Tagovailoa in the National Championship game, to lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC Championship the following year when Tagovailoa was injured in the conference title game. (and a place in the college football qualifiers.). Hurts transferred to Oklahoma and was a Heisman Trophy finalist before being drafted by the Eagles in the second round of last year’s draft. He was in a quarterback competition with Wentz after the former Pro Bowler fell into one of the league’s worst quarterbacks last season.

Hurts goes into the offseason with an open mind, controlling what he can control as he seeks to win the starting position.

“It’s always been a business, in college and with the pros, and I’ve always understood that,” said Hurts. “One thing I have always done, I have always tried to keep the right mindset. The main thing I can control is my work ethic, my effort, where I am. The relationships I have had with those around me – build them like a man and build them like a player. I’ve always been rooted in my faith. ”