FLOWERY BRANCH -- Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will get a shot to replace the departed Carson Wentz, who was traded to the Colts over the offseason.
Hurts, who played at Alabama and Oklahoma, started four games last season and went 1-3. He completed 77 of 148 passes for 1,061 yards and threw six touchdowns and four interceptions. He rushed 63 times for 354 yards.
Extrapolated over 16 games, Hurts would have thrown for 4,244 yards, 24 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, which would have been an issue. Keeping down his interceptions will be key as he moves into the starter role.
“I just think he has a lot of skills as a player,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “He can make a lot of plays in a lot of different ways.”
The Falcons, who play the Eagles at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, have reviewed Hurts’ pro film. He played only 10 snaps in the exhibition opener against the Steelers and completed 3 of 7 passes for 54 yards.
“He’s a good quarterback,” inside linebacker Deion Jones said. “He’s going to run around. Just managing him, and when it’s our time to get him on the ground, we have to get him on the ground.”
The Falcons also respect his passing ability and fleet of wide receivers, which will feature DeVonta Smith, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and former Alabama star.
“(Hurts) played at two of the bigger programs in the country and had success at both of them,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “I know he’s highly competitive, he’s got a strong arm. He’s got courage in the pocket.”
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