Jalen Hurts Reacts to Philadelphia Eagles' Signing of Julio Jones, Alabama's 'Best Receiver'
PHILADELPHIA – Just months after the Philadelphia Eagles gave Jalen Hurts what was then a record-breaking $255 million contract extension, the team has now given him a Hall of Fame receiver.
The Eagles quarterback may already be playing with one of those in A.J. Brown, and maybe even a second one, depending on how DeVonta Smith’s career develops. Julio Jones, though, should be a lock whenever the now 34-year-old calls it quits.
Jones isn’t ready to go off to pasture, yet, after the team signed him to the practice squad on Oct. 17.
Hurts isn’t one to show much emotion during his news conferences, so cartwheels weren’t expected on Wednesday when he was asked about his new weapon.
“He’s a guy that’s coming in and he’s about his craft,” said Hurts. “Obviously, knowing where he comes from, and knowing where our background resides, he has that mentality. A future Hall of Famer. He’s as good as it gets. So, he’s coming in with a great mentality, and a great person to add to this team.”
Their background includes having been molded and produced in part by the University of Alabama. The QB and receiver weren’t there at the same time, of course, since Hurts is nine years younger than Jones.
Suddenly, the Eagles’ roster is taking on not just an image of the University of Georgia, where six current Eagles played, but also a likeness to Alabama, where Jones becomes the sixth player to have played for the Crimson Tide if you count Hurts who spent three years there before transferring to Oklahoma for his final college season.
Julio Jones answers reporters' questions a day after being signed to the practice squad.
Ed Kracz/SI Fan Nation Eagles Today
“I met Jalen (at Alabama),” said Jones. “I usually go back. Before the pandemic, I used to go back to the University of Alabama and train with the guys and talk to them – Jalen, Smitty (DeVonta Smith), and those guys; a number of guys, Calvin Ridley, everybody. So, I had a relationship with him then.
“Amazing talent. Still a younger guy, but amazing talent. Everything he does, and he has a lot of ownership. He’s a competitor. He’s a leader. Everything you’d want in a quarterback.”
Smith was on the Big Play Slay podcast back in May when his teammate and podcaster Darius Slay asked him to rank the top five wide receivers to ever come through the University of Alabama program during the wildly successful Nick Saban era.
Smith put himself fifth. In the top spot was Julio Jones. In between were from second to fourth, Amari Cooper, Ridley, and Jerry Jeudy.
Who knew then that Jones would ultimately become Smith’s teammate when the Eagles signed him to the practice squad on Oct. 17?
“Tell him thank you,” said Jones when SI.com Eagles Today asked him on Wednesday if Smith was right. “I appreciate it. When I was at the University of Alabama, we were running the ball. We didn’t even throw the ball when I went.
“Every now and again, we threw the ball, but it was a big run-first team and just play defense. I took a lot of pride in blocking. And whenever my number was called, I’d go out there and make a play.”
Jones was right. His only big season of three in Tuscaloosa was his final one in 2010 when he made 78 catches for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. He has since developed into a Hall of Fame receiver, with seven 1,000-plus yard NFL seasons.
As the Eagles scramble to find a third receiver behind Smith and A.J. Brown, they have landed on Jones, and blocking is a good trait to have in an offense that likes to run the ball and do it well. They are second in the league in rushing offense, behind only Sunday night’s opponent, the Miami Dolphins.
“I love the game of football, I always have,” said Jones, when asked about trying to get a ring to cap his brilliant career. “I have the passion and the drive. If it comes, it comes (the Super Bowl), but it’s always the main goal, right?
“You gotta play one game at a time. You just don’t jump to the Super Bowl. So, we gotta build each and every week. It’s a process to get there. That’s my drive each and every week and have a better version of myself each and every week, moving forward.”
