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Rookie Jalen Hurts secured first-team quarterback representatives ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Monday night football game against the Seattle Seahawks, sources told ESPN.
Carson Wentz is still expected to start, but there has been a noticeable increase in Hurts’ snaps with QB’s first team, signaling the likelihood of a more expansive role as Wentz’s struggles continue.
Hurts, the team’s second-round pick in April, has been primarily used as a gadget player so far, with just two of his 31 shots allowing him to throw a pass. But the signs point to more opportunities with the ball in his hands on Monday night.
Coach Doug Pederson hesitated last week when asked about the possibility of making a quarterback change before finally saying Wentz would remain the starter.
Wentz is in the middle of his worst season as a pro. He is first among all players in interceptions (14), fumbles (10) and sacks (40), ranks 32nd in completion percentage (58.4), 31st in yards per attempt (6.2) and has the worst percentage off target (23%). ) among all qualifiers, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Pederson has increasingly been asked to make a switch to Hurts, who racked up 52 touchdowns last season for Oklahoma (32 assists, 20 downs) and finished second in the Heisman Trophy by voting behind Joe Burrow. A long-term switch to Hurts is complicated by Wentz’s contractual situation. The Eagles signed Wentz for a four-year, $ 128 million extension last summer. It carries a dead cap of nearly $ 60 million in 2021, per Spotrac, a figure that drops to $ 39.5 million in the 2022 offseason.
The Eagles 3-6-1 need a spark on offense after tying a season low with 17 points each of the past two weeks. Owner Jeffrey Lurie skipped last week’s game at the Cleveland Browns, sources have confirmed. A spokesperson for the team said it was safe to visit his mother on Thanksgiving, but sources believe her absence was in part related to her growing frustration with her team’s performance.
The Eagles have had decent success in the Hurts’ limited shots this season, averaging eight yards per game with two touchdowns, according to NextGen Stats.
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