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Spadaro: Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' offense embrace 'next-man-up' mentality

With multiple starters on offense out with injuries, Jalen Hurts opens up about what steps the offense is taking to prepare for London.

Jalen Hurts breaks down the huddle before Sunday's game.
Jalen Hurts breaks down the huddle before Sunday's game.

POV for quarterback Jalen Hurts Sunday in London against Jacksonville? A new left guard. A second start for a rookie at right tackle. New personnel at running back. Young talent at wide receiver. The tight end position not looking as expected when Training Camp began.

So, what is he supposed to do? Go with it. Roll with it. Work hard during this week of practice and head into the game against Jacksonville with confidence and trust. That's how the NFL works. That's just how it has to be.

"I feel good about it. I feel good about the guys that we have. I feel good about the work that we're putting forward and the week will tell how much that will improve," Hurts said on Wednesday at his weekly press conference at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. "I get ready for meetings. We've got a lot of opportunity in front of us. We've got a lot of room to improve and we're attacking that every day."

Hurts understands that change "is the nature" of the NFL, but that doesn't change the mission. These are challenging times and players understand through the course of their careers that tough times don't last, but tough minds and players do.

"This is when you find out what you have," Hurts said. "You find out who you're going out there to battle with. You see how you respond to adversity, how you show up to work every day, what's your energy, what's your level of persistence and resilience and determination to go out there and do the job."

Hurts is the leader here, so he is leading by example. He says the Eagles are "jelling," and that to do so successfully it will take a commitment to each other, follow the words of Head Coach Nick Sirianni, and to "lock arms" to "get the results that we want."

With that, there is an urgency to break a two-game losing streak despite the spate of injuries that have hindered this offense. Running back Tank Bigsby is on Injured Reserve and running back Saquon Barkley hasn't practiced with a hamstring injury. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith is still on the practice sidelines with a hamstring injury, as is wide receiver Hollywood Brown with an ankle injury. Tight end Dallas Goedert practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday as he rehabilitates a knee injury.

"Next-man-up mentality. Continue to build," Hurts said. "That's truly my mentality. It's definitely a challenge that nobody is going to wait on us to overcome. We have to be a persistent group, continue to jell, continue to come together, continue to have those conversations so we can put the best product on the field."

Hurts continued to talk about "jelling" and "coming together," and that is the truth. The Eagles have new faces in new places, not uncommon in the NFL in 2026. He is the one the others are following, and Hurts intends to lead the right way.

"We have to be committed to overcoming anything and everything," Hurts said. "It's going to take all of us."

Check out photos from practice this week as the Eagles prepare to fly across the pond to play the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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