It was inevitable.
As soon as the tone around Jalen Hurts’ ankle injury turned ominous, it wasn’t hard to see how Week 13 would end: A win over the Jets, and Minshew Mania within the Eagles fanbase.
Then Gardner Minshew went out and threw darts in the first half against one of the NFL’s worst defenses, cementing something this city can’t go a year without falling back into: A quarterback controversy.
But regardless of what fans feel after a 33-18 win behind Minshew’s stellar day, nothing about a quarterback switch makes any sense for the Eagles franchise. And the only way to avoid it is to leave no doubt that it doesn’t exist.
Head coach Nick Sirianni started down the correct road immediately after Sunday’s game. When asked if Hurts would be his quarterback when healthy, the first-year coach said “of course.”
For Sirianni’s sake, let’s hope he handles every subsequent question over the next two weeks with such aplomb.
Now, let’s be fair: Minshew was quite good vs. the Jets. He was better than I anticipated in a new offense and with limited practice reps all week. It’s a testament to Sirianni’s coaching, Minshew’s ability (there’s a young Ryan Fitzpatrick to his game and personality) and some of the struggles the passing game had been facing under Hurts.
But nothing about a win over the Jets should have the Eagles wavering in an approach that’s more than a year in the making.
This season has always been about two things: Establishing a new culture and program under Sirianni and finding out what Hurts’ ceiling, floor and most likely path can be before a crucial offseason of quarterback dominoes unfolds around the NFL. Taking the job away from him now before the final stretch of the season (which includes a legitimate NFC playoff race) cuts both of those goals off at the knees.
Let’s start with culture.
Quarterback controversies can rip locker rooms apart, even when the room itself doesn’t realize it. We’ve seen it here. We just watched it play out twice in the last few years involving Carson Wentz and his now infamous backups, one of which was Hurts. Any doubt from the coaching staff or any sideways quote from a non-quarterback creates doubt. In the case of Hurts, I doubt it’ll affect him mentally. But you never know, especially with a young player.
Hurts was voted a captain by his teammates before the season. He’s looked as the leader of the team despite his age (23) and experience level. Two weeks ago, the team was buzzing about his performance against the Saints. One nice day (really, a half) vs. the Jets can’t and shouldn’t change that.
This franchise’s culture was poor one year ago, and that included Hurts being benched in order to tank in Week 17. This coaching staff can do the opposite of the last, uplift a young leader and not waver between now and kickoff in Week 15. That means Hurts getting every first-team rep in practice next week (assuming he’s healthy) and taking the podium as the starter. That means not wavering after watching the tape of Minshew’s performance.
If, say, Minshew’s performance (20-of-35, 242 yards, 2 TD, 11 rushing yards, 133.7 passer rating) was drastically different than what Hurts did (27-of-35, 264 yards, 62 rushing yards, 126.4 passer rating) in Week 1 vs. a similarly bad defense, perhaps I’d feel differently. But Minshew didn’t do one thing on the field vs. the Jets that Hurts couldn’t. There wasn’t one throw out there the backup made that the starter can’t or hasn’t. If the Eagles prioritize culture *and* making the playoffs, the best option is still Hurts.
Then, of course, there’s the future.
Here’s the most blunt way I can put it, as I guess along with the Eagles front office: Benching Hurts for Minshew now raises the “we’re after a QB!” flag, and cuts off any leverage the Eagles have in draft talks or draft misdirection this coming offseason. Benching Hurts for Minshew is the equivalent of telling the rest of the NFL that Hurts definitely is not the guy, and we will be desperate for one come March.
That’s not a knock on Minshew. He is what he is. It would instead be an admission that the Hurts project is over and done less than a full year into its run. There’s zero logic to that, and instead pushed the franchise closer to a worst-case scenario rather than anything close to a good one.
The best-case scenario for the Eagles goes as follows: Hurts returns, plays well, and the Eagles make the playoffs. The franchise would enter the offseason with optionality at quarterback, and a reliable, high-end No. 2 in Minshew.
The worst-case scenario? Sirianni wavers, Hurts loses the job to Minshew, the reality of this team’s playoff ceiling comes crashing down and the rest of the league enters the offseason knowing Howie Roseman will have to pay whatever it takes to find a long-term starter.
Call it risk vs. reward. Call it a culture setting. Call it common sense.
Call it whatever you want, as long as the Eagles leave no doubt in a controversy that makes no sense to have inside the NovaCare Complex.