NFL analyst: I was wrong about Eagles’ Jalen Hurts - NJ.com

It takes a big man to admit he was wrong. So kudos to NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms for his mea culpa.

Simms is among the many talking heads buying into quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles following their Week 1 thrashing of the Atlanta Falcons.

NBC Sports Philadelphia reports that back in June, Simms wasn’t on board with Hurts.

“There’s just nothing that I ever saw that led me to think he’s an NFL starting quarterback. And, listen, I hope he proves me wrong. And if he proves me wrong, I’ll be on here to go, ‘Way to go, Jalen Hurts, you made Chris Simms look like a dumb idiot, way to go.’ I hope that’s the case, I do.”

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Mission accomplished for Hurts, who made Simms look silly by throwing for 264 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 32-6 win.

As a man of his word, Simms admitted he was wrong about Hurts.

“The way he controlled the football certainly was good. The ball placement throughout the day - I don’t go, ‘Wow, what a laser,’ or, ‘Wow, what a spiral,’ but the ball is always right there, where it needs to be. And then his ability to make plays outside the pocket, like the touchdown right before the end of the first half, that’s special what he brings to their football team. ... I’m rooting for Jalen Hurts. I know everyone thinks since I didn’t make him in my Top 40 - yeah, it looks like I’m wrong right now. And I’m going down on Philly sports radio and saying, ‘Yeah, I messed that one up.’ He looked really good.”

Hurts and the Eagles return to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 2 for their home opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s what you need to know about the game from NFL PR:

49ers

• QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO passed for 314 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 124.2 rating in Week 1, his 6th-career 300+ yard game. Has 100+ rating in 6 of his past 8 road starts. Rookie QB TREY LANCE had 1st career TD pass in Week 1 & became 3rd rookie QB (MATT RYAN & TIM TEBOW) to throw TD pass on 1st career attempt since 2000.

TOP NFL BETTING OFFERS FOR WEEK 2

• RB ELIJAH MITCHELL (rookie) rushed for 104 yards & TD last week & became 1st rookie in franchise history with 100+ rush yards in NFL debut. RB JAMYCAL HASTY had 2nd-career rush TD in Week 1.

• TE GEORGE KITTLE had 4 receptions for 78 yards last week. Had career-high 15 receptions for 183 yards & TD catch in last meeting. Has 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 on road. WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 9 receptions for career-high 189 yards, incl. career-long 79-yard rec. TD, last week. Has 100+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 on road. Aims for his 6th in row on road with 5+ receptions & 70+ scrimmage yards. WR TRENT SHERFIELD had 2nd-career TD catch in Week 1. WR BRANDON AIYUK had 38-yard rush TD in last meeting.

• DL NICK BOSA had sack & 3 TFL in Week 1. DL DEE FORD had 38th-career sack last week. Had sack in only career game vs. Phi. (9/17/17 w/ KC). LB FRED WARNER had team-high 11 tackles last week & aims for his 4th in row with 10+ tackles. LB DRE GREENLAW had 2nd-career INT last week. LB AZIZ Al-SHAAIR had 2 TFL & 2 PD in Week 1.

Eagles

• QB JALEN HURTS completed 27 of 35 attempts (77.1 pct) for 264 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for a career-high 126.4 rating & had 62 rush yards in Week 1, his 2nd-career start with 3+ TD passes. Has 60+ rush yards in 4 of his 5 career starts.

• RB MILES SANDERS had 113 scrimmage yards (74 rush, 39 rec.) in Week 1, his 10th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Had 76 scrimmage yards (46 rush, 30 rec.) in last meeting. Ranks 4th among RBs with 4.9 yards per rush since 2019 (min. 300 attempts). Rookie RB KENNETH GAINWELL had 1st-career rush TD in Week 1.

• WR DEVONTA SMITH (rookie) had 6 receptions for team-high 71 yards & 1st-career rec. TD last week. Was 1 of 3 1st-round rookie WRs (JA’MARR CHASE & JAYLEN WADDLE) with rec. TD in Week 1. WR JALAN REAGOR had career-high 6 catches for 49 yards & 2nd-career TD catch in Week 1. TE DALLAS GOEDERT had 1st rec. TD of season last week. TE ZACH ERTZ had rec. TD in last home meeting.

• DT FLETCHER COX had sack & PD in last home meeting. Aims for his 4th in row at home with sack & 8th in row at home with TFL. DE BRANDON GRAHAM had 7 sacks & 8 TFL in 8 home games last season. Has sack in 3 of his 4 career games vs. SF. DT JAVON HARGRAVE had 3rd-career 2-sack game in Week 1. LB ERIC WILSON led team with 9 tackles in Phi. debut last week. CB DARIUS SLAY had PD last week. Since 2014, leads NFL with 106 PD.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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