Hurts Homecoming Day hyped, Eagles trade deadline day quiet

PHILADELPHIA >> The minute the Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts it was a matter of when, not if the Houstonborn quarterback would take on the Texans, the professional club he revered growing up.

That personal date with destiny is Thursday at NRG Stadium. Hurts’ family will be there and probably his godfather, Sean Washington, who got him a more intimate look at the franchise, having worked in player development for the Texans.

If legendary University of Texas quarterback Vince Young is watching, he should be flattered to know that he helped make this possible by setting an example for Hurts, who admired him all the way to the NFL. Yes, the same Vince Young who as a backup quarterback in 2011 dubbed the Eagles “The Dream Team.” They would go 8-8.

“I watched Steve McNair a lot,” Hurts said Tuesday. “But Vince Young, watching him at Texas, hearing the name around Houston and playing at Houston-Madison, it was him. He was a hell of a player, did great things at all levels. He’s definitely a legend in the city of Houston.”

Hurts has put it all together this season with the Eagles, who accelerated his growth with the addition of A.J. Brown, a game-breaking No. 1 wide receiver. Hurts has thrown 10 touchdowns against just two interceptions, is the NFL leader in combined passing and rushing yard average (300.3 per game), and above all is the major reason the Eagles are a runaway plus-14 in turnover ratio. The defense has 14 takeaways, Hurts just two giveaways.

Right now, the Eagles’ biggest problem is what to do when teams doubleand triple-team Brown. Then again, it’s not that big of a deal because the Eagles are 7-0 with Hurts, who has won a club-record 10 straight regular season starts.

“There are opportunities where A.J. goes out there, and he’s given opportunities to make bigtime plays,” Hurts said. “That can be for anybody on the field. It all depends on what the defense gives you. I think it’s my job to just distribute the ball given the picture shown to me. So, it’s a thing of playing together. It’s a thing of trust in one another. Me trusting them to be in the right spots, and them also trusting me to get them the ball when it’s advantageous for us as an offense.”

No team has fewer victories this season than the Texans (1-5-1), who with Mills Davis (8 TDs, 6 interceptions) at quarterback are 13-point underdogs Thursday. That might not change the rest of the way.

Certainly not Thursday when Hurts returns to Houston.

“I know he’s excited to play in his hometown,” Brown said. “I know from talking to him he’s always wanted to play at NRG Stadium. And I know he’ll be ready to go. Everybody is going to see how prepared he is for the game. He’s always prepared.” • • •

The fanboys who took a knee when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman added veteran Robert Quinn to the pass rushing mix last week had to be a little let down when the trade deadline passed without another deal Tuesday.

Of course, sometimes the best deals are those you don’t make. So it was … or wasn’t … for the Eagles, who were rumored to be in the mix for running backs Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt. Neither wound up being moved anywhere.

For players like running back Miles Sanders, who couldn’t help but hear the rumors linking the Eagles as a destination for those guys, it was just another day. Maybe one with a sense of relief.

“I’m not going to dwell on it unless I see Alvin

Kamara in the building,” Sanders said. “It is what it is. I really don’t care. If they wanted to get rid of me, they would have gotten rid of me.”

Sanders leads the Eagles with 563 rushing yards and with five rushing TDs, trailing only Hurts (6). Sanders, who has an expiring contract, also has 11 receptions in 13 targets worth 42 yards.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has said Sanders is the team’s workhorse, and that he likes the running back room. The absence of a trade here is an affirmation of that.

•••

Defensive tackle Jordan Davis (ankle) and cornerback Josiah Scott (ankle) didn’t practice Tuesday, and are unlikely to see action against the Texans.