Jalen Hurts clears air on WR addition after confirming John Metchie III's ties

Jalen Hurts has always operated like a seasoned general on the field. The Eagles' QB1 commands his offense with a quiet intensity. Now, as the 2025 season looms... his leadership is being tested anew. Meanwhile, the front office just made an unlikely late-summer move.

It’s a classic NFL gambit, like a baseball team trading for a veteran slugger at the deadline. Now, that new weapon is receiver John Metchie III. And Hurts confirmed their brief, overlapping time at Alabama at the end of the camp.

Alabama Ties, Philadelphia Dreams

“Well, I missed him by a couple days... Well, I had him for a week or so,” Hurts said, reminiscing with a grin. Their history is thin. But the potential seems intriguing. Besides, Howie Roseman's move signals the Eagles are leaving no stone unturned. Especially with A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith missing crucial reps.

The Eagles acquired Metchie from Houston for a song. He brings a compelling mix of elite college pedigree and profound personal resilience. Consequently, he arrives with much to prove. His journey from a leukemia diagnosis back to the gridiron is the stuff of legend.

Now, he must learn a new playbook at breakneck speed. Hurts understands the process of integrating a new target. He went through it last year with Jahan Dotson. And his approach is methodical and team-first.

“It's a matter of establishing and then understanding the role given when you were onboarded,” Hurts explained when asked about the late addition & consequent plans. Then he carved out the path forward for Metchie.

"He's got a lot of ability. He's played a lot of ball at the highest level. And as we get started, it's just about embracing that role in whatever that role is... and they may change, that may evolve. But just build that chemistry throughout and kind of have a next-man-up mentality with it," Hurts added. For Metchie, that role is undefined but full of opportunity.