It took one more day than many expected, but speaking on Monday after his team’s win over the New Orleans Saints, head coach Doug Pederson confirmed the obvious — Jalen Hurts will start vs. Arizona next week.
"I'm going to continue with Jalen as the starter," Pederson said.
Hurts was sensational in his first career start, finishing with 273 total yards and one touchdown going against what Pederson called the best defense in the NFL. His play early on helped the Eagles build a 17-0 lead, and he made two big plays on what proved to be the game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
Hurts starting next week means Carson Wentz will remain on the bench for the second-straight week. Wentz was benched after struggling all season, throwing 15 interceptions in 12 games and posting a passer rating of 72.8, the lowest of his career and one of the worst in the NFL.
The question now is whether the Eagles will continue to keep the quarterback position a week-by-week decision, or if the job is Hurts for the final three weeks regardless of how he plays.
If he continues to play like he did against the Saints, however, the Eagles won’t have a choice but to continue to play the rookie.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
