Jalen Hurts 'feeling good' ahead of Giants game, says there's a 'bounty on me every week'

Staff writer

Tue, 17 Jan 2023, 7:46 pm·2-min read

Jalen Hurts knows the score.

He's a target every time he steps on a football field. Even more so now that he has experienced a shoulder injury. Such is the life of an NFL quarterback. But the Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller says he's ready to go for Saturday night's playoff game against the NFC East rival New York Giants.

After missing Weeks 16 and 17 due to a shoulder sprain and being limited in Week 18 against the Giants, Hurts was absent from the Eagles injury report Tuesday. He's says he's going to "just play my game" on Saturday, with a spot in the NFC championship at stake.

"It's football," Hurts told reporters Tuesday. "I've got a bounty on me every week I go out there on the field. Gonna go out there and just play my game. Whatever happens happens."

By "my game," Hurts presumably means he'll be ready to resume his role as a dual threat and take the consequences as they come. It's a role that was conspicuously absent in Philadelphia's Week 18 win over the Giants, which saw Hurts tally just 13 yards on nine carries against a team resting its starters. He played only because the NFC's No. 1 seed was at stake. The designed runs that are a regular part of the Eagles' game plan were limited as he played through the lingering injury.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 08: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs onto the field prior to a game against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on January 08, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) — Jalen Hurts was prolific in a Dec. 11 victory against the Giants, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another TD. He finished 21-of-31 for 217 passing yards and rushed for 77 yards on seven carries. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Hurts is at his most dangerous when he's a threat to run the ball. He earned his first Pro Bowl berth this season while averaging 50.7 yards on 11 rushing attempts per game. He tallied 13 rushing touchdowns on the ground alongside a career-best passing effort that included 22 touchdowns and six interceptions.

If he plays at that level Saturday, the Eagles should beat a Giants team they swept in the regular season. Head coach Nick Sirianni sounded confident that Hurts would be able to play his game.

"He’s better today than he was two weeks ago,” Sirianni told reporters. “He’s continuing to get better, and he feels good. I’ll let him tell you how he feels."

So how is Jalen feeling?

"I'm feeling good," Hurts said.

The Giants, of course, don't intend to make it easy for him. But Hurts wasn't suggesting that he's expecting any sort of foul play with his "bounty" quip — just acknowledging the reality of being a quarterback in the NFL.

"Obviously, the quarterback gets a lot of attention," Hurts clarified. "I think every quarterback in the league has a bounty on them in a sense — to stop them."