With the departure of All-Pro center Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will now shoulder more responsibilities at the line of scrimmage. Kelce, a longtime cornerstone of the Eagles' offensive line, retired this offseason and has transitioned to the ESPN Monday Night Countdown studios. This change paves the way for Hurts to take on a larger role in making pre-snap calls.
“Over the years, it’s been something I’ve wanted to do,” Hurts shared. “But when you have someone like Jason Kelce, you let him handle it. I never really had the chance to take on those responsibilities. Now, that opportunity has arrived.”
New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, a former NFL quarterback, noted on Saturday that Hurts will now be empowered to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage. “Sometimes the QB can see things from a broader perspective,” Moore said. “His viewpoint may offer different insights, and he has the authority to make necessary changes.”
Hurts’ ability to read the entire field and identify defensive coverages and schemes will be put to the test. However, he emphasized that it will be a collaborative effort with his new center, Cam Jurgens. “It’s about collaboration between me and Cam, and building our relationship,” Hurts explained. “I have a lot of confidence in him to do the job and be the player he is. He’s ready to lead that O-line room, and the team will rely on him.”
As Hurts and Jurgens work together to read defenses and make the correct calls, the Eagles aim to make more right decisions than wrong ones. The season kicks off against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on Friday, September 6.
