Eagles QB Jalen Hurts to Regress? New (Bizarre?) ESPN Projections
From a dominant campaign highlighted by a runner-up finish in the MVP race to a stellar performance in Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is coming off quite the season.
Hurts was named to his first Pro Bowl and earned second team All-Pro honors while going 16-2 as a starter, including the postseason.
And yet, with his stock seemingly as high as it's been, Hurts has been tipped for a statistical regression in ESPN's latest projections.
Via the model, Hurts is expected to complete 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,581 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions with an additional 710 yards and 12 touchdowns on 148 rushing attempts across 15 games.
For comparison ...
In 2022, Hurts connected on 66.5 percent of passes for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns on 165 tries in the same 15-game sample size.
Thus, ESPN's model expects Hurts to be both less efficient and more turnover-prone through the air and less productive on the ground, though marginally more efficient in yards per carry.
Of note is that backup quarterback Marcus Mariota is slated to start two games, going 40 of 62 for 465 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions while adding 72 yards and a score on 14 carries.
It's something of a bizarre twist for Hurts, who's still only 24 years old and has made steady progress throughout his first three seasons.
The Eagles don't anticipate Hurts taking a step back, as general manager Howie Roseman has expressed interest in giving the 2020 second-round pick a hefty contract extension.
And that, above the predictions of ESPN's model, is a much clearer representation of how Hurts is thought of by those whose voice carries the most impact.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? Click Here.
Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Check out the SI.com team page here
