Former Philadelphia Eagles great is all the way in on Jalen Hurts

There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback position this offseason. First, Carson Wentz was shipped out to Indianapolis following what appeared to be a broken down relationship with the likes of Howie Roseman. Then, all sorts of rumors popped up regarding Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, and even moving up in the NFL Draft for someone like Zach Wilson.

However, despite all the noise, rookie camp is underway and it still looks like Jalen Hurts will be taking the reins as the Eagles’ full-time QB1 this season. The former second-round pick should be getting a full 17-game season to prove his worth as a potential franchise arm, with the addition of DeVonta Smith in the first round signaling as much.

And at least one former Eagles great appears to be “all in” on Hurts moving forward:

Former Philadelphia Eagles superstar Terrell Owens is all in on Jalen Hurts.

One of the more direct bouts of praise I’ve seen handed to Jalen Hurts this past offseason, Hall of Famer Terrell Owens claimed that Hurts is the reason the Philadelphia Eagles can be successful this season. I’ve seen arguments citing that the team’s returning offensive line and a potentially better coaching staff could spear the team into a Wild Card spot, but T.O. seems to be more on board with the idea that Hurts is a star in the making.

Maybe Owens is putting a good amount of stock into Hurts’ first two games as a NFL starter, where he took down the New Orleans Saints and went toe-to-toe with the likes of Kyler Murray in Arizona. Hurts recorded a total of 674 yards over that two-game stretch, leading the Eagles offense to at least 24 points in each game.

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While Hurts did flash some real potential during his first two starts, his next two weren’t nearly as impactful. He turned the ball over a combined total of four times against Dallas and Washington during Weeks 16 and 17, and only finished the year with a passer rating in the 70s.

One can realistically go either way when assessing Hurts potential in 2021, and Owens clearly appears to be fully sold on the idea that his performances against the likes of New Orleans and Arizona better represent the type of QB he can be in the long run.

I guess only time will tell if T.O. is correct in his current assessment. At the moment, a lot of the oddsmakers in Vegas appear to disagree, as the Eagles are currently expected to finish with a below .500 record for the second season in a row.

Albeit brief, T.O.’s time in Philadelphia was undoubtedly impactful. He helped guide the organization to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2004 season, and remains on good terms with a majority of the fanbase to this day, despite his Dallas Cowboys connection.

Owens caught 124 passes for 1,963 yards and 20 touchdowns during his 21 games as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. His 93.5 yards per game average currently ranks first in franchise history, considerably above the likes of DeSean Jackson, Mike Quick, and Jeremy Maclin.