Former All-Pro QB has one 'hope' for Eagles' Jalen Hurts this season

Former NFL quarterback and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason likes the Philadelphia Eagles rushing attack but wants to see signal-caller Jalen Hurts less involved with that aspect this year.

"Hopefully, Jalen doesn’t have to be as big a part of that as he was last year, but that is part of his game," Esiason said during a CBS media teleconference, per Chris Franklin of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "They are considered one of the best, if not the best, teams in the NFC as we get ready to start here in 2023. I think expectations should be just that, Super Bowl or bust." 

According to ESPN stats, Hurts led all quarterbacks in 2022 with 165 rushing attempts, and he was also tied for second in the entire league with 13 rushing touchdowns. However, the 25-year-old suffered a shoulder injury in Week 15 that sidelined him for a pair of games and "nagged" him throughout the postseason. 

Hurts signed a five-year extension this spring reportedly worth up to $255M with $179.3M guaranteed, and both he and head coach Nick Sirianni insisted the signal-caller won't change how he plays despite injury concerns. Meanwhile, former New York Giants star quarterback and current CBS analyst Phil Simms suggested during the teleconference that Hurts could produce yet another dynamic offensive season. 

"I think the offense will progress," Simms explained. "Every year you keep a group together, they can add to their playbook and be smarter, be better, and the play-calling will be interesting...the one thing (Hurts has) done every year since he’s been a quarterback is get better. I think his throwing went up big time last year, and I expect his throwing to be even better this year than last year. Of course, it always helps to maybe or probably have the best offensive line in football." 

That dominant line can only protect Hurts so much when he leaves the pocket. It will be interesting to see if he ultimately plays somewhat more cautiously than he did last year, especially if he experiences an injury scare over the first half of the season. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Eagles as second among the betting favorites at +800 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII. The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs topped the list at +600 odds at that time.