Hurts wants to give Birds reason to keep selling his jersey
PHILADELPHIA » Jalen Hurts doesn’t give up much at his news conferences. He fought off a question about his impressive 77.1 completion percentage in the season opener with the only stat he cares about.
“The biggest stat I’ll look at, at the end of a game is if we won or lost,” he said bluntly Wednesday.
Hurts is looking forward to opening the home schedule this Sunday against the 49ers in front of a sellout crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles opened the games to a limited number of fans for a few games last season.
“It’s a packed house,” Hurts said. “A game with full fans, electric fans, passionate fans. I’m looking forward to it.”
Hurts threw three touchdown passes to lead the Eagles to a 32-6 rout of the Falcons last week.
The 49ers are three-point favorites after holding on to defeat the Lions, 41-33, in their opener.
The Niners have something the Falcons don’t — a pass rusher or four. Defensive linemen Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw and Arik Armstead know how to get after the quarterback. The same with linebacker Fred Warner.
“We’re all aware that we’re going against a really good defense and a good team, a very good and active front seven,” Hurts said. “They’re really good up front, so we have to be prepared.”
In the aftermath of the Eagles’ victory, sales of the Hurts jersey reportedly are up 500 per
cent. There’s a lot of youth looking up to him.
“I think it’s all love,” Hurts said. “I want to continue to give them something, a reason to wear it.”
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The Eagles rested their old heads Wednesday, while welcoming a newbie, Landon Dickerson, back for a full and by all visual accounts a devastating day of work.
The oldies getting a respite were offensive linemen Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce, defensive linemen Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham, cornerback Darius Slay and tight end Zach
Ertz.
Most were limited. Brooks (knee) and Ertz (hamstring) got the day off as they have slight medical issues while defensive end Ryan Kerrigan was given the day to take care of personal business.
Sitting out practice were wide receiver JJ ArcegaWhiteside (ankle) and safety Marcus Epps, although he was in uniform and was able to warm up.
The good news was Dickerson (knee), the second-round pick out of Alabama and linebacker Davion Taylor (calf) had no limitations in practice, according to the Eagles.
If the Eagles for some reason are without Brooks or guard Isaac Seumalo, Dickerson looked nasty in combination blocking
drills with Kelce, who shouted teaching points along the way.
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The 49ers are working through injuries of their own.
Armtead (abductor), Kinlaw (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (groin) and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (knee) sat out the Wednesday practice.
Edge rusher Dee Ford (ankle) and linebacker Marcell Harris (oblique) were limited. The 49ers lost cornerback Jason Verrett and running back Raheem Mostert to seasonending knee injuries last week.
The issues on defense are a blow to first-year defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, who played for the Eagles from 2012-15.