[News] News & Notes: Eagles Have Unique Tool in Lamar Jackson Prep With Jalen Hurts

[_Happy boy]

 

Teams who face the Ravens search for someone to simulate Lamar Jackson in practice leading up to the game. That's easier said than done.

However, the Philadelphia Eagles have someone who can imitate Jackson better than most in quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has been playing that role in practice as the Eagles prepare to face Baltimore Sunday.

"It's really helped us a lot," Eagles safety Rodney McLeod said via PennLive.com. "He understands the zone read scheme, and his athleticism, I think, speaks for itself. He's putting that on display for us this week, giving us a real good look."

Hurts was the No. 53-overall pick in the draft, after his career as a dual threat quarterback at both Alabama and Oklahoma. The Eagles selected him two picks before Baltimore took running back J.K. Dobbins.Hurts hasn't played much this season as the backup to Carson Wentz, rushing five times of for 26 yards and completing his only pass attempt for 18 yards.

However, Hurts was a true dual-threat quarterback in college just like Jackson. As a senior at Oklahoma, Hurts passed for 3,821 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns.

"Of course, he's not Lamar," Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham said. "But he's fast, too. It's definitely going to help us Sunday."

Nick Boyle Talks About Loss of Hayden Hurst

Last year the Ravens' tight end group referred to itself as the three-headed monster, consisting of Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, and Hayden Hurst. However, the trade of Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons has reduced the trio by one, and Boyle says Hurst's presence is has been missed.

"Of course, we miss Hayden," Boyle said. "Mark and I, we were all so really close when he was here. We were always together around the building, always making jokes, attacking other people (and) whatnot. From an offensive standpoint, we're doing well without Hayden, but do we miss Hayden in the sense that he's a really good football player? We do. He's a fast player, he's a physical player, and he can do a lot of special things. And he's going to do great, and he's doing great in Atlanta. But I think we can find people who are here to step up and fulfill what he left."

Andrews leads the Ravens in touchdown receptions (five) and is second in yards (222) and catches (18), Boyle (six catches, 30 yards, one touchdown) remains a premier blocking tight end, and he believes his growth as both a receiver and blocker has continued.

"I think I'm getting better as a football player every single year," Boyle said. "That's the whole thing, especially from a blocking standpoint; the more years I get, I'm able to see, diagnose defenses, see things faster, make faster decisions, which helps out my blocking."