Is Jalen Hurts actually avoiding the run? Or is the 2025 Rumor Mill just bored?
Welcome to another week of Philadelphia Eagles drama, where the sky is always falling, even when the team is 8-4. If you’ve been online recently, you’ve probably seen the chatter. The latest narrative spinning out of the Philly sports complex is that Jalen Hurts, the guy whose legs have been a cheat code for this offense since 2021, wants to run the ball less.
Shocking, right? A quarterback who gets tackled by 250-pound linebackers for a living might not be thrilled about the idea of doing it 15 times a game. But let’s peel back the layers of this report, because the response from Hurts himself was a little more spicy than his usual stoic press conference answers.
The “Sources” vs. Reality
Here is the deal: Reports surfaced recently claiming Hurts has been pushing to keep the ball in his hands and out of the open field to avoid taking hits. It makes sense on paper. He’s dealt with injuries. He’s the franchise guy. But when a reporter actually asked him about it, Hurts didn’t just offer a generic denial. He flipped the script.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did we come to that conclusion or rationalize that?” Hurts asked.
You have to love the pushback. It’s a polite way of saying, “Who told you that?” He followed it up with the classic quarterback pledge of allegiance, stating he’s focused on doing whatever it takes to win and bringing the game plan to life. He didn’t explicitly say “No, I love running into traffic,” but he certainly didn’t sign off on the idea that he’s lobbying for a pocket-passer lifestyle.
Does running the ball actually help or hurt the offense?
Let’s look at the numbers, because they don’t care about feelings or rumors. Through 12 games, Hurts has carried the rock 84 times for 329 yards and eight touchdowns. For most QBs, those are great numbers. For Hurts he is on track for his lowest rushing totals since he took the keys to the franchise.
Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Head Coach Nick Sirianni gave a pretty standard non-answer when pressed on the issue, talking about protecting Hurts for the “long haul.”
“We’re always thinking about how to protect Jalen and make sure that he is healthy,” Sirianni said. “Jalen’s talented in running the football. He is talented in holding the backside when he doesn’t run the football.”
Translation: We paid this guy a lot of money, and we need him upright in January.
The issue isn’t just about Hurts preserving his body; it’s about efficiency. The offense has been clunky. When Hurts isn’t a threat to take off, it changes how defenses play Barkley. It changes the passing lanes. The Eagles need any edge they can get right now, and a stationary quarterback isn’t exactly the identity that got them to the Super Bowl.
Digging into the film vault
So, how is Hurts dealing with the inconsistency? By going full football nerd.
He revealed this week that he’s been opening up the “vault”, watching old game film from this season and past years. He’s comparing the current product to the versions of the offense that dominated the league.
He mentioned noticing a lack of efficiency and issues with the “sequencing” of plays. That’s quarterback speak for “we aren’t executing.” It’s honestly refreshing to hear. It’s not just bad luck; it’s a lack of discipline and rhythm. The Eagles have had a weird year—win four, lose two, win four, lose two. If that pattern holds, they’re due for a winning streak, but relying on superstition isn’t a game plan.
Trusting the coaching vision
Despite the noise about running less and the obvious offensive struggles, Hurts is publicly doubling down on his trust in the coaching staff. He mentioned having “great conversations” with Sirianni and Kevin Patullo during the bye week about the vision for the offense.
“I think as a unit, and more importantly as a quarterback, it’s about me going out there and following the direction and the vision,” Hurts said.
Is he buying in? Or is he just saying the right things to keep the media wolves at bay? Who knows. But with the Cowboys breathing down their necks in the NFC East and a pivotal Monday Night Football game against the Chargers looming, the time for “reflecting” on old film is over.
Whether Hurts runs the ball 15 times or 5 times, the Eagles just need to find a way to move the chains. If they don’t, the questions about his running—and everything else—are only going to get louder.
