Eagles Fans Should Be Thankful to Have Jalen Hurts Over Carson Wentz

Jalen Hurts has gotten a lot of crap from Philadelphia Eagles fans this year for not living up to whatever expectations they placed on the 2020 second-round draft pick.

If I recall correctly, Eagles fans were far more forgiving of Carson Wentz after his unimpressive rookie year.

Yet, if you look at how the two signal callers stack up in the stat box early in their careers, you have to give Hurts a clear edge over his former teammate.

Hurts, who replaced Wentz as the Eagles starting QB late last season and was named the unquestioned starter heading into this season after the Eagles traded Wentz to the Colts, has created more touchdowns, been responsible for fewer turnovers and has created more total yards for the Eagles in his first 14 starts than Wentz. Really, it's not even close.

Despite these statical facts, Eagles fans were ready to run Hurts out of town a few weeks ago when Philly was 2-5. Now, after winning two out of three, the Eagles are within a game of the seventh and final playoff spot and Hurts is a big reason why.

He's averaging 62 rushing yards over the last three games, has only turned the ball over once, has only been sacked twice and has thrown three touchdowns. Not mind blowing numbers, but still more productive than Wentz was in his 12-14 NFL starts (six turnovers, two scores, three losses).

Sure, Wentz was a rookie when he made those starts and Hurts is in his second season. But it's incredible how fans can embrace one player and cast aside another for no reason other than internal perception.

Despite being the No. 2 pick in the draft, Wentz was given all the time and support in the world from Eagles fans. He rewarded that faith with an outstanding start to his second season, but was then hurt and the Eagles went on to win a Super Bowl anyway.

He has never full recovered from that and seems to max out as a middle-of-the-road quarterback who makes some good plays and some absolutely awful ones, even six years into his career. Oh, and he's hurt all the time.

Hurts, meanwhile, was a second-round pick, expected to be an insurance play for when Wentz inevitably got hurt again. Instead, the Eagles cut ties with Wentz, fired their GM and coach, brought in a totally new regime and, what, Eagles fans thought Hurts should instantly be successful in a rebuild year and when he didn't they needed to find his replacement?

That seemed to be their attitude a few weeks ago at least.

Stats don't lie. Emotions do. I'll let Hurts stats do the talking for me.