Eagles try to take wing with Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni

The Philadelphia Eagles have a young offensive built around speed, in hopes of learning whether Jalen Hurts can be the quarterback of the future.

Best-case scenario

Jalen Hurts has been a training camp standout, and if the second-year quarterback out of Alabama and Oklahoma can build on his performance this summer and down the stretch last season, the Eagles have the talent around him to compete in the NFC East.

The Eagles’ offense isn’t lacking in the speed department with running back Miles Sanders, wide receiver Jaylen Reagor, and rookie DeVonta Smith is a polished route-runner with game-breaking speed on the perimeter. If Hurts takes the next step, the Eagles have enough talent in the front-seven and secondary on defense to finish above .500 and be in the mix for the division crown.

Worst-case scenario

Hurts only completed 52 percent of his passes as a rookie last season, for 1,061 yards with six touchdowns to four interceptions. For all of the weapons around Hurts, the Eagles are very clearly evaluating their young quarterback this season, owning potentially as many as three first-round picks next spring to draft his replacement if he fails to make the leap this season.

If injuries once again decimate what is among the NFL’s premier offensive lines, when healthy, as they did last season, and Hurts winds up having a mediocre season or worse, this is a team that could struggle to win more than seven games.

X-factor

Quez Watkins has been a preseason star, and training camp standout this summer. Watkins, 23, was only targeted 12 times as a rookie last season, but Hurts produced a 115.3 passer rating when targeting Watkins. In the preseason opener against the Steelers, Watkins took a rocket-screen from Hurts 73 yards for a touchdown, showing the kind of game-breaking speed he can provide as a secondary option in a youthful receiving corps.

Biggest game – Week 15 vs. Washington

The Eagles’ playoff hopes might long be decided before this game, but if Philadelphia is in the mix, a showdown against the defending division champions and first matchup against the Washington Football Team has the chance to be a must-win game, prior to a rematch just two weeks later.

Bold prediction

Miles Sanders surpasses 1,500 total yards from scrimmage. This is a pivotal season for the 2019 second-round pick out of Penn State, and Sanders has the opportunity in first-year head coach Nick Siranni’s scheme. He’s playing in the backfield alongside the mobile Hurts and could emerge as the focal point of the Eagles’ offense, proving he deserves to be paid handsomely.