On the bye week, I wished to take a step again and take a look at Jalen Hurts’ 2025 season to date. This text brings collectively each one in all my weekly movie opinions by way of the primary eight video games, utilizing quotes and key takeaways from these items to type an entire evaluation of Hurts’ season so far. Movie clips are included all through to assist the factors made.
I didn’t write a full Hurts assessment final offseason, so this serves as a comparability to my final detailed analysis of Hurts as a participant, which was my 2024 article reviewing his 2023 season. That piece concluded that Hurts was nonetheless a superb quarterback, let down by a poorly designed offense. Two years later, the context feels a bit bit totally different. The offense has been inconsistent (which is likely to be a bit beneficiant), however Hurts appears to have risen above it.
Weeks 1–3: A Unbelievable Begin
The season opened with one in all Hurts’ most interesting all-around performances. In opposition to Dallas in Week 1, I known as it “among the best video games I’ve seen Jalen Hurts play.” He “carried the offense on his again,” bailing out the construction a number of occasions when pockets collapsed. He made a number of performs along with his legs on this one.
Hurts’ “processing was distinctive” at occasions, as he persistently eradicated lined routes and located his checkdowns with endurance. He didn’t power throws, didn’t panic, and punished Dallas’ poor rush-lane self-discipline each time it appeared. He continued to indicate off his stunning deep photographs, too…
Week 1 was very constructive. His athleticism appeared again to 2022 ranges, and he began the season with a high efficiency.
Week 2 towards Kansas Metropolis continued the development of composure. Hurts was “excellent towards the blitz,” staying calm and “unfazed by stress.” Spagnuolo’s disguise packages by no means rattled him.
Hurts used to panic when he had free rushers operating at him, however that appears to have vanished.
The offense wasn’t flawless. The passing sport “appeared common at greatest towards zone” (which sadly, was an indication of issues to return) with Hurts maybe “eliminating performs downfield too early” and being barely risk-averse at occasions.
Nonetheless, the positives far outweighed the negatives. Hurts’ composure, decision-making, and willingness to play inside construction had been glorious.
Week 3 towards the Rams was a lot of the identical. Hurts performed effectively regardless of the offense wanting fairly tough at occasions. The primary half was messy with poor spacing, unhealthy routes, and little rhythm.
However, “Hurts and A.J. Brown merely took over the sport as a result of they’re distinctive gamers.” Hurts’ anticipation stood on a couple of events, equivalent to when he “delivered an ideal deep ball to Brown,” and his throw on a deep dig to DeVonta Smith showcased elite timing.
I wrote that “Hurts doesn’t get sufficient credit score for his ball placement,” and I really feel that manner about him usually. His consistency on fast curls and quick outs from Empty was glorious, regardless of the scheme being terrible at occasions. Even when the offense stumbled, Hurts’ gave it some life.
Weeks 4–6: A Step Backward
The Week 4 win over Tampa Bay was one of many strangest video games of the yr. The primary half was terrific. I wrote that “the primary drive of the sport confirmed how far Hurts has come towards stress.” Todd Bowles’ blitzes have traditionally rattled him, however this time Hurts “calmly recognised the stress, set his toes, and ripped a completion regardless of a free rusher.” The distinction was clear:
By halftime, Hurts was 15-of-16 passing. That’s no joke. Bowles is an distinctive defensive thoughts, and Hurts was profitable fairly simply. The offense was “balanced, artistic, and distinctive within the purple zone.” I famous that the red-zone plan was “excellent” and that “Hurts’ throwing over the center has stood out,” citing a seam strike to Goedert as one in all his greatest throws of the season.
However then got here the collapse. Hurts went 0-for-8 within the second half, and the offense “had seven drives, 5 of which resulted in three-and-outs.” The tape confirmed a mixture of points: Hurts missed a few deep balls he normally hits, however the construction round him fell aside. The offense misplaced all creativity; “the simple buttons had been gone.”
I wrote that “the receivers appeared pissed off and lazy at occasions,” jogging by way of routes and creating no separation. The dearth of element in route spacing and blocking grew to become obvious. Even Hurts’ physique language confirmed frustration after a number of damaged performs.
After the early stretch of command, this second half felt like a worrying concern of issues to return…
Week 5 towards Denver was outlined by frustration, however Hurts himself continued to indicate notable progress in key areas. I wrote, “Hurts’ enchancment towards the blitz is actual,” as he accomplished eight of 9 passes beneath stress within the first half, together with a landing.
Nonetheless, some hesitation crept again in when the primary learn wasn’t accessible. For an athletic quarterback, Hurts “not often creates on the transfer” in these moments, and his “cautiousness out of construction” was noticeable. The offense round him was usually static and Hurts began holding the ball too usually. He appeared to get again into a few of his outdated unhealthy habits.
Probably the most puzzling problem remained his lack of involvement as a runner. This hasn’t modified, and it’s nonetheless complicated me!
Week 6 towards the Giants was the place the frustration peaked. The offense, in my very own phrases, “was damaged.” The construction supplied Hurts little assist. I nonetheless stand by this remark based mostly on the movie alone from this sport. A number of ideas had been “unworkable towards zone,” and even well-designed performs suffered from timing points.
Hurts “didn’t really play that poorly” (24-of-33 for 266 yards), however the movie revealed a couple of “terrible throws” that left a bitter style, together with a “unhealthy miss” to Smith on busted protection. You recognize the one. The same old crowd had been energetic on Twitter, letting us know that they don’t assume Hurts is superb. Fortuitously, Hurts would certainly bounce again after this catastrophe.
Nonetheless, this wasn’t regression within the outdated sense of Hurts taking part in terribly. Hurts continued to look calm in empty formations and made fast reads when the design allowed. It felt extra like an offense nonetheless trying to find rhythm than a quarterback taking part in terribly. I used to be fairly constant in my evaluation that the scheme was extra in charge than the quarterback.
Hurts reminded us in Week 7 that he’s nonetheless an elite quarterback. Week 7 towards Minnesota was, as I mentioned, “among the best video games of Jalen Hurts’ profession.” His stat line of 19 of 23 for 326 yards, three touchdowns, and an ideal passer ranking was mirrored within the movie. The “ball placement, timing, command, and confidence had been all elite.” He picked aside disguise appears with ease, diagnosing coverages and releasing on time with authority. This was towards a protection that was shutting down passing video games with ease, too. Nobody was passing efficiently on this Vikings’ protection.
Hurts’ “decisiveness stood out all through the sport,” and his processing was glorious. In opposition to a protection identified for complicated quarterbacks, he “threw to each stage, and his timing was good.” His 79-yard play-action strike to DeVonta Smith was a spotlight, however much more spectacular had been the delicate moments. I labeled the landing throw to AJ Brown as “Anticipation with a capital A,” and several other pocket actions that confirmed whole management.
Equally essential, Hurts was “sensible outdoors of construction,” preserving his eyes downfield and throwing with precision on the transfer. This was some of the vital variations from earlier weeks, the place he typically hesitated as soon as the construction broke down.
Week 8 continued that type, with one other ruthlessly environment friendly efficiency. Hurts confirmed the event he has made lately, with some nice throws to the center of the sector.
He “stood in and ripped it” on a throw to Smith between the hashes and adopted it with one other anticipation throw beneath stress.
The headline numbers (15/20, 179 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs) summed up the efficiency. Hurts was decisive, correct, and unbothered by contact. For all of the discuss that he ’can’t throw to the center of the sector’, the movie confirmed in any other case. His placement and timing there have change into quietly constant. I summed it up this manner: “Over the past two weeks, he’s accounted for seven touchdowns with no turnovers, and he’s taking part in nice soccer. Lengthy could it proceed.”
Evaluating Hurts: 2023 vs. 2025
In my 2023 season assessment, I concluded that Hurts remained a superb quarterback, however was let down by accidents and an offense that didn’t go well with him. That yr felt like a step backward. This yr has been extra uneven than dominant, but it surely’s clearly trending upward over the previous two weeks. The quarterback’s progress is clear. These had been among the areas I checked out in 2023, so I assumed I might see how he compares to what I mentioned about him then.
Then: I wrote, “Hurts has gotten higher at studying the protection and eliminating what isn’t there shortly.” However his progress was restricted by schematic chaos.
Now: That psychological aspect of his sport has undoubtedly progressed. He has been higher this yr at eliminating what isn’t there. Hurts is diagnosing defenses quicker and extra confidently than at any level in his profession.
Deep Ball and Ball Placement
Then: I wrote that Hurts was an “extremely good deep-ball thrower” who “throws with implausible anticipation and placement.”
Now: I feel this stays his trademark. His deep ball accuracy continues to be distinctive. Nonetheless, his ball placement, notably on timing throws and between the hashes, has been higher than it was a few years in the past. He’s developed into one of many league’s most correct quarterbacks from the pocket.
Mobility and the Run Sport
Then: Accidents restricted his mobility, however I wrote, “He’s nonetheless an elite speeding menace when wholesome.”.
Now: He’s absolutely wholesome, however the workers is utilizing his legs extra selectively. That method has drawn criticism from many (together with myself!), however I suppose it’s a trade-off between long-term sturdiness and week-to-week explosiveness. When Hurts does run, his burst and imaginative and prescient nonetheless look good, however I feel it’s particularly reasonable to level out that he was a extra essential a part of the run sport two years in the past. He hasn’t been a giant a part of the run sport in any respect.
Dealing with Stress and the Blitz
Then: This a part of Hurts’ sport obtained a ton of criticism, however I used to be defensive of Hurts, stating, “It’s not Jalen Hurts’ fault the Eagles are unhealthy towards the blitz.” I assumed the scheme was atrociou,s and Hurts didn’t have an opportunity to play towards the blitz. I’m not absolutely excusing Hurts, however I actually don’t assume he had a good likelihood with the scheme round him. I feel I’ve confirmed right…
Now: He’s turned that weak point right into a defining energy. His efficiency towards stress has been excellent. I’ve repeatedly mentioned issues, equivalent to “unfazed by the blitz,” or “calmly throwing on time regardless of a free rusher.” This space may characterize probably the most vital single year-to-year leap of his profession. And, it doesn’t shock me in any respect!
Jalen Hurts isn’t fairly within the Tier 1 “elite tier” of quarterbacks in my view, and it’s onerous to judge him with out contemplating the massive quantity of weapons at his disposal. Nonetheless, I feel he’s sitting comfortably on the high of the subsequent tier. If we’re being sincere, rankings can really feel arbitrary, and I not often launch them for that motive, as a result of individuals will ignore all of the evaluation within the article and simply touch upon that quantity. I mentioned in 2023 that Hurts is nice sufficient to guide the Eagles to a Tremendous Bowl. I used to be confirmed right. If the query is whether or not Hurts can lead this model of the Eagles to success, my reply stays the identical: sure.
For what this Eagles offense needs to be, I actually imagine there’s no person higher suited to run it. And for what this franchise values (accountability, work ethic, and management), I wouldn’t need anybody else main the group.
Hurts’ progress towards the blitz has been dramatic. His accuracy and ball placement are constant week after week, and his consolation throwing over the center is now beginning to present. He’s change into an impressive quarterback. I didn’t assume he may change into this participant when the Eagles drafted him. I used to be completely improper and underestimated him as a competitor, a frontrunner, and an individual.
Since turning into the starter, Hurts has been on the heart of some of the profitable stretches in Eagles historical past. He’s not only a quarterback. I feel he’s the tone-setter for all the group. A frontrunner, a winner, and a participant who’s grown into the precise kind of quarterback this group calls for. Greater than the rest, I feel Hurts is resilient and accountable. He continues to enhance elements of his sport yearly.
Hurts’ evolution is the most important motive why the Eagles stay a contender each single season. Some gamers are simply winners…
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