Jalen Hurts dazzles in debut of new era as full-time starter in Philadelphia
Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles opened a new era with the former Alabama quarterback as the full-time starter.
He found a familiar target in DeVonta Smith as the rookie had an impressive debut himself. But Hurts finished with an impressive showing of 27-for-35 passing for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was sacked once, but had a quarterback rating of 126.4. Smith, meanwhile, had 6 catches for 71 yards on 8 targets in the 32-6 Eagles win over the Falcons.
Hurts, a second-year player out of Oklahoma and Alabama, started 4 games for the Eagles last season and became the undisputed starter when Philadelphia traded Carson Wentz to the Colts in the offseason.
He was named a team captain, an honor he said “means the world” and reflects the work he has put in, the Associated Press reported.
“I don’t take it lightly,” Hurts said.
Here’s a sampling of some fan reaction of his first game of the 2021 season:
That 1-0 feeling 🎸🦅 #PHIvsATL @JalenHurts | @Eagles | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/dOZFOwS7Kd
— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2021
Put some respect on @JalenHurts and my #Eagles name!!! #FlyEaglesFly 🦅🦅🦅
— Briccthalemual (@BRICCS) September 12, 2021
Kudos to Jalen Hurts for leading his Eagles to victory and silencing his critics.
— Nathaniel Fanning (@NathanielFanni3) September 12, 2021
Put some respect on Jalen Hurts name PLEASE! 🙌🏽 Young gun balled out!
— Theo (@fizzy_ted) September 12, 2021
I heard from so many people that jalen hurts is bad and not an nfl quality qb???????
— doug (@stanHinkie) September 12, 2021
BE REAL… all you sh*t talkers definitely wasn’t expecting Jalen Hurts to throw 2 TD passes today. #FlyEaglesFly
— Devonta Smith SZN ⁷ (@Marklaylow) September 12, 2021
I know its only Game 1 but I’m gonna say it, “Jalen Hurts is definitely the guy”#FlyEaglesFly
— JawnT Realmuto #BLM (@iMJawnWayne) September 12, 2021