The Philadelphia Eagles may nonetheless appear like probably the greatest groups within the NFC for 2026 on paper, however all of the vibes are off. A messy offseason that has been dominated with swirling A.J. Brown commerce rumors, shedding precedence go rusher Jaelan Phillips in free company, and attempting to make offers beneath a tough wage cap has now morphed into criticism of quarterback Jalen Hurts.
“Poor physique language, not all the time purchased in, not essentially the most coachable and the gamers discover,” a crew supply stated.
A lot of the ESPN report facilities on one key second within the 2025 season, during which there was finger-pointing on the Eagles sideline with no person accepting duty for the unsuccessful 4 Verts play on fourth down towards the 49ers within the playoffs, which ended Philadelphia’s season. Some say Hurts got here up with the thought for the play, whereas others say it was failed offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, however with Hurts noticeably resisting any wrinkles being added to the play.
“I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, this isn’t taking place,’” the crew supply stated. “We are able to’t run 4 verts.”
Hurts has each software wanted to be an elite NFL quarterback, however two constant themes proceed to emerge when criticism of the quarterback happen: A hesitance to let the ball rip and exhibit his arm expertise, in addition to an overarching resistance to vary. It makes Hurts the final word quarterback when issues are going effectively, however right here’s been an inclination to battle on the uncommon events the place he’s wanted to battle to get the Eagles again into shut video games. Hurts has simply 10 fourth-quarter comebacks and 13 game-winning drives over the course of his six-year profession, lagging behind his peer group. That is partially as a consequence of Philadelphia’s dominance, however that doesn’t utterly erase the truth that there have been struggles when the offense must make in-game changes.
There has additionally been some criticism that Hurts causes a level of chaos on the line of scrimmage, routinely altering performs at a whim and seemingly not executing on the teaching employees’s imaginative and prescient.
Eagles offensive gamers know Hurts isn’t afraid to vary performs he doesn’t like and should alter accordingly, a crew supply stated. Added a separate crew supply, “You by no means know what play is popping out of the huddle” when Hurts is main it, and up to now he has been identified to sign a route that hadn’t been put in by coaches.
This creates a captivating dichotomy: Is Hurts merely a die-hard competitor doing what it takes to win? Or does this too usually cross into hubris, the place Hurts takes an excessive amount of of the playcalling duties on himself when he needs to be taking steering? Is there a risk that as a lot success because the Eagles have had, might they be even higher if Hurts took himself out of the playcalling equation extra?
We’d get the solutions to a few of these questions in 2026. The Eagles may have a totally rebuilt offense with new coordinator Sean Mannion, shifting away from the boring ideas of Patullo. If the NFL season begins and we see a new-look offense from Philly, then it might be an indication that this crew has moved previous its points, but when the performs look nearly the identical as 2025 then it’s honest to query if this is because of Hurts’ resistance to vary. If that’s the case, then who is aware of what occurs subsequent.
