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Jalen Hurts clears air on Carson Wentz era in Eagles with blunt 6-word admission

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles | By Gourab Saha | Last updated Oct 16, 2025 7:00 AM ET

Remember the 2020 Eagles season? It felt like a slow-motion car crash. The franchise quarterback was crumbling. The offense was going nowhere. Meanwhile, a rookie watched, learned, and waited. It was a messy, awkward transition, the kind of drama that could fuel a whole season of a gritty HBO series.

That rookie was Jalen Hurts. The veteran was Carson Wentz. Five years later, Hurts finally addressed that tense period. His words were measured, yet they spoke volumes about his journey and the team's pivotal turning point.

Hurts offered a blunt, six-word admission about his time with Wentz. He stated, "I was always a pure student." This wasn't a throwaway line. It was a declaration of his mindset during a chaotic time. He was absorbing everything, even as the walls were closing in on the player he was drafted to back up.

"I enjoyed my time with Carson. I learned a lot from him. I was always a pure student, taking everything in through my experience with him. So I think right now, trying to set the best example I can, knowing some of the things I was able to experience," Hurts said. Besides, the Eagles had made a franchise-altering decision amid the covid crisis.

The 2020 season was a relentless struggle for Wentz. In Week 1, he squandered a 17-0 lead against Washington. The turnovers piled up week after week. By the time he was benched in Week 13, he led the league in interceptions (15) and sacks taken (50) even though he only played 12 games. His performance essentially made the decision for the Eagles.

They traded Wentz and handed the keys to Hurts. Jalen was named the Eagles' starting QB on December 8 against the Saints. And that move looks like a masterstroke today. Under Hurts, the Eagles have been to two Super Bowls.

A Reunion on the Horizon for the Eagles

Now, the student is the master. However, his old teacher might be waiting for him. The Eagles travel to Minnesota for Week 7. Coincidentally, Wentz is now the Vikings' quarterback. He has a golden opportunity for a revenge game five years in the making.

Wentz’s journey has been a wild ride. He has played for five teams in five years. But, in Minnesota, something has clicked. He is getting the ball out faster than any QB in the league. He is finally playing within a system, not trying to be a hero on every down.

This new, efficient Wentz presents a major problem for the Eagles. Philadelphia's pass rush is depleted. Their secondary is vulnerable. This sets up a classic NFL showdown, ripe with narrative. It’s a test of what was learned versus what was lost.

This is a story of two divergent paths shaped by one crucial season. Hurts observed, adapted, and ascended. Wentz was humbled, forced to wander, and has now found a semblance of his old self. And their brief, shared history forged both of their careers, leading to this moment under the bright lights in Minneapolis.

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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