Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. has issued a warning to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
The NFC East teams are vying for a trip to the Super Bowl in February and will face off in a fixture that will determine who gets to play in New Orleans. Philly is favored heading into the crucial matchup.
However, the Eagles have been warned in the buildup as Whitt has made it clear that Hurts will be treated like a running back if he breaks out of the pocket on designed runs.
“We’ve had a number of these guys that we’ve had to prepare for. The one thing is, if he’s gonna run the ball and the coordinator makes the decision for him to run the ball, we’re gonna treat him like a running back,” the DC told reporters on Thursday. “And we’re gonna hit him that way. So, that’s their decision if they want him to get hit the way he gets hit. If they don’t, they’ll keep him in the pocket.”
The Eagle Might Want Jalen Hurts In The Pocket In Any Case
Hurts is, of course, one of the most formidable dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL. He had one of his best rushing games of the season in last weekend’s Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams, opening the scoring with a 44-yard dash early in the first quarter. He registered a total of 70 yards and a score on seven carries in the 28-22 win.
It appears the Commanders want to discourage him from taking off downfield when they meet on Sunday. But the Eagles might also want him to throw more because he also got injured on a tackle against the Rams.
Conversely, they might use Whitt’s comments as motivation, but there’s nothing new about what he said. QBs aren’t given the same luxuries they get when they remain in the pocket and are treated like runners once they leave.
Still, the Eagles might make Washington’s Jayden Daniels even more of a target, given that he runs a lot more than Hurts does.