Pederson seems to be thinking it Hurts so good
Earlier in the week, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson basically denied that the front office told him to activate and play rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts last Sunday.
Hurts was onthe field for three plays as a decoy inthe 37-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, a game featuring three Carson Wentz turnovers.
Even the suggestion of front office interference is a touchy subject for Pederson, who after saying offensive coordinatorMike Groh would be retained this season, has a largely new staff minus Groh.
Pederson loosened up a little bit Friday, suggesting that going with Hurts over veteran quarterback Nate Sudfeld was a chance for the rookie to get his feet wet. Hurts lined up at running back and wide receiver.
“We just felt like it was an opportunity to maybe get him sort of coming on just a little bit,” Pederson said. “It’s nothing against Nate Sudfeld or any of that. We feel we have two really good backup quarterbacks. It’s aweek-to-week decision, quite frankly, based on opponent, based on game plan and things like that. But the things we had in last week for him, he handled well and it’s a small drop in the bucket, I think, to probably getting his career off and running at some point.”
The selection of Hurts in the second round of the draft stunned almost everyone, for the Eagles had several needs. In defending the pick, general manager Howie Roseman refused to ignore the obvious, which is that Wentz has been unable to complete the last three seasons due to injury. Minus Wentz, the Eagles would have had a much better shot of defeating the Seahawks in the playoffs witha talent such asHurts instead of aging veteran Josh McCown, who also got injured, or Sudfeld.
Pederson wasn’t secure enough in his game-planning to discusswhat role, if any Hurts might have this Sunday when the winless Eagles oppose the winless Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field. Quarterbacks coach Press Taylor, just the same, praised Hurts’ work ethic.
“He’s done a great job,” Taylor said. “We feel like all of our quarterbacks, they’re responsible for knowing everybody’s role at every single time. So, if there’s a time to throw Jalen in there, we don’t look at it as he’s a receiver. We look at it as we’re getting two quarterbacks on the field. We’re threatening the defense in some way, shape or form either with what we’re doing or what we could possibly
present to the defense in some way, shape or form.
“So, every time we do something like that it’s purely to give our offense an advantage and threaten the defense inanotherway.”
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The Eagles won’t be able to threaten the Bengals with rookie first-round receiver Jalen Reagor, as he’s been ruled out with a broken thumb.
Also listed as out are wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, still not all the way back fromfoot surgery, and safety Rudy Ford (groin).
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (oblique) is questionable for the game and was a limited participant in the Friday practice.
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The Bengals will be
without veteran defensive tackle Geno Atkins (shoulder) but backup Mike Daniels (groin) is listed questionable and the Bengals are hopeful he’ll play this weekend.
Additionally, safety Shawn Williams (calf) is close to making his debut this season per head coach Zac Taylor.
The Bengals will be without tight end C.J. Uzomah, a go-to guy for rookie quarterback Joe Burrow. Uzomah tore an Achilles’ tendon after hauling in four passes for 42 yards and a score in the Bengals’ 35-30 defeat at Las Vegas Sept. 17.
Backup Drew Sample will start at tight end.
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Nate Herbig has moved from right guard, where he
started the first two games, to left guard, where he’ll replace Isaac Seumalo.
No Eagles offensive lineman was playing better than Seumalo before he injured a knee and was placed on injured reserve, sidelining him at least three games.
Herbig, who last year made the Eagles as an undrafted product of Stanford, isn’t worried about the transition, made largely to accommodate Matt Pryor, who is more comfortable at right guard.
“Just everything flips,” Herbig said. “Your hands flip, your stance flips, the play flips. It’s just being more conscious of those things and knowing that everything is the opposite. I’m excited. It’s a new opportunity,
a new challenge and I’m not going to make any excuses for myself. I’m going to go out there and try to domy job as best I can.”
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The Eagles are 4.5-point favorites over the Bengals, who have lost both games by five or fewer points. The Birds have been outscored, 64-36 overall, including 36-3 in the second half.
The Eagles have been gashed for touchdowns on seven of the opposition’s nine trips into the red zone. Only five teams have played worse red zone defense.
After getting burned for 191 rushing yards last week, the are serving up an average of 135.5 yards on the ground weekly, 22nd in the league.