The Philadelphia Eagles are 3-6-1 and in second place in the NFC East division that no team seems to want to win.
Their Week 12 game is on Monday against the 7-4 Seattle Seahawks.
The Eagles have dropped 2 winnable games in a row, first to the Giants and second to the Browns.
During these weeks, there has been constant talk about QB Carson Wentz who admittedly is struggling this season.
Will they or won’t they bench him and should they or shouldn’t they bench him have dominated the discussion on Philly sports radio.
Up until now, Coach Doug Pederson has been firm in saying that Wentz would not be benched.
So, this latest development becomes a bit of a head-scratcher.
Sources: #Eagles rookie QB Jalen Hurts is expected to receive increased playing time on Monday night – without Carson Wentz on the field.
My story on the shift in Philly: https://t.co/QqFNeRlGV2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 29, 2020
Say what?
What’s the Plan for Jalen Hurts?
The Eagles have to play Jalen Hurts. They need to see what they have there.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) November 22, 2020
Digging into the details makes the headline a bit more confusing.
Hurts will not be used for an entire offensive series.
He will come in for a couple of downs, but Wentz will not be on the field for Hurts’ plays.
There is likely a set game plan of plays for Hurts to run.
And for the clincher.
When asked if Pederson is transitioning to a different quarterback, he answered:
“I would say no…Yes, Carson’s our starter.”
After last week’s loss to the Browns, Pederson answered questions about benching Wentz:
“I think, if you get to that spot, where you don’t start him, or you bench him, you’re sending the wrong message to your football team. That the season’s over. That’s a bad message.”
It’s unclear what the message is under this plan.
Hurts in 2020
The rookie has appeared in 9 games this season.
He has 12 rushing plays for 56 yards and completed 2 out of 2 passes for 27 yards.
Could this be more disruptive than productive?
1. Eagles offense needs a jumpstart.
Certainly, the Eagles offense could use a spark.
The Eagles rank 26th in passing, 11th in rushing, and 18th in scoring.
Hurts has seen limited action already, but the play calling has been predictable.
Mainly read-option and quarterback runs are what Hurts executes.
If Hurts is to make an impact on Seattle and catch them unprepared, the play calling needs to be more diverse and creative.
2. Timing
Whether it is injuries, weather, or sloppiness, the Eagles have had their share of offensive penalties this season.
Through 11 games, they have 3 delay of game penalties and 10 false starts.
For the Hurts plan to work, the Eagles need to tighten up on their timing.
Snap counts, the cadence of his voice, and other variables between Hurts and Wentz need to have been practiced so the offensive line can make these off-the-cuff adjustments between QBs.
Eagles Are in the Playoff Hunt.
Though the Eagles are struggling, they are still in the NFC East playoff hunt.
They sit in second place behind the Washington Football Team who is 4-7.
Granted, it is the weakest division in football.
But Jalen Hurts could be the difference maker going into a tough stretch of the Eagles schedule.
After Monday night’s game with Seattle, the Eagles have Green Bay, New Orleans, and Arizona on their docket.
The Eagles’ regular-season finale is against first-place Washington; Washington defeated the Eagles in Week 1.
NEXT: Is It Time For The Eagles To Bench Carson Wentz?