‘Coffee bean’ Hurts hopes to brew up improvement

Everyone wants to know what Jalen Hurts really meant when he said the Eagles left a lot of money on the table in his first start, a 24-21 win over the heavily favored New Orleans Saints.

Mature beyond his 22 years, Hurts has reviewed the game film. Leaning on teammates and coaches, he’s eager to fix the mistakes in his second start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals and fellow Oklahoma University pal Kyler Murray. The game has “shootout” written all over it.

“Every game we play we have an opportunity to learn from it,” Hurts said Tuesday. “I feel like we left some money on the table, but that’s why we have an opportunity this week to kind of reset and build. Learn from our mistakes and do the things we need to do to improve moving forward. Right now, it’s all about getting ready to play our best game as a team versus a great football team in the Arizona Cardinals.”

Hurts threw for 167 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 109 in his starting debut. His fumble late in the game gave the Saints an opportunity to score their final touchdown.

With Eagles practices and the locker room largely closed to the media, it’s difficult getting to know the new players. It’s also tough for the players to bond, as they’re immersed in virtual meetings due to COVID-19 policies. Hurts seems to be an exception.

Several Eagles on both sides of the ball have mentioned how inclusive Hurts is, his great sense of humor and above all, his work ethic. No Eagle ever has outworked defensive end Brandon Graham, one of the team captains. And Graham is incredibly impressed with the second-round