Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts appears to have regained some of the mobility that defined earlier stretches of his career, according to observations from training camp.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that Hurts looks “quicker and faster” this summer. The assessment came after Fowler watched a lighter practice session in which the dual-threat signal-caller still handled several designed running plays.
“Hurts is looking like a viable dual threat again,” Fowler wrote. “The session I attended was a lighter day, but Hurts executed a designed run multiple times, and he looks as if he’s moving well. A team source agreed, noting Hurts looks ‘quicker and faster.’ Hurts averaged nearly 700 rushing yards per season from 2021 to 2024, but that production dipped to 421 yards last year.”
Those comments have generated discussion among fans and analysts who watched Hurts’ rushing totals decline during the 2025 campaign. In that season he threw for 3,224 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding 421 yards and eight scores on the ground. He completed 64.8 percent of his attempts.
The Eagles captured the NFC East title last year but saw their postseason end quickly with a home loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round. That early exit left questions about the offense’s consistency and the quarterback’s ability to create plays with his legs when the pocket collapsed.
Hurts signed a five-year, $255 million contract extension in April 2023. Team sources note that relatively little guaranteed money remains on the deal after the current season, adding an extra layer of focus to his performance in 2026.
Over his career Hurts has accumulated 17,891 passing yards, 110 touchdown throws, 3,554 rushing yards and 63 rushing touchdowns. He has earned three Pro Bowl selections and earned Super Bowl LIX MVP honors after leading the Eagles past the Kansas City Chiefs.
A notable change this offseason is the arrival of Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator. Mannion, a former NFL quarterback, has developed a strong working relationship with Hurts in the early weeks of camp.
That chemistry stands in contrast to last season, when Hurts and previous coordinator Kevin Patullo often seemed out of sync. Players and coaches have stressed the value of shared language and trust between the quarterback and the play-caller.
Hurts himself addressed the importance of clarity and tempo during a recent media session.
“In the end, you’re still playing the position, and you want to play the position the same way — play with your feet, sweep through your reads, know exactly where you’re supposed to go with the ball,” Hurts said. “[Know] where your alerts are, whether it’s down the field or whether it’s a man alert, just try and play fast. But that is more so just understanding what you’re doing, what we’re trying to attack, being on the same page and playing each play.”
The quarterback has worked under seven different play-callers across more than six professional seasons. That revolving door of schemes has tested his adaptability, making the partnership with Mannion one of the more closely watched storylines of the summer.
Observers around the team say Hurts’ improved burst could open additional options in the run game and force defenses to account for him as a legitimate threat outside the pocket once again. Early camp practices have shown him taking designed keepers and scrambling effectively when protection breaks down.
The Eagles will open the 2026 regular season at home against the Washington Commanders.
That matchup will offer the first real test of whether the quicker version of Hurts seen in August translates to regular-season production.
