Jalen Hurts had a rough Wednesday, throwing three interceptions during a joint practice with the New England Patriots, with one pick even getting returned for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye looked sharp, completing 16 of 19 passes and absolutely ripping off 13 consecutive completions against that Eagles defense. Talk about a contrast, right?
Vita Vea Secures The Bag, Bucs Are Buzzing
Away from the practice field drama, the biggest news was Vita Vea and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally getting that contract situation sorted. The Bucs locked down their star defensive tackle with a one-year, $30 million extension. This deal means Vea is now one of the highest-paid D-tackles in the league, staying under contract for the next two seasons and getting a sweet $6 million raise for 2026, boosting his salary to $24 million this year. We’re talking a fully guaranteed $48 million over those two seasons. Remember how Vea was demanding a trade when camp started? He thought they were miles apart on a deal, but Tampa Bay wasn’t letting their guy go. They need him big time as they push for a postseason spot after missing out last season. Vea is an absolute monster, the centerpiece of Todd Bowles’ defense. He’s logged 256 total tackles, 35 sacks, and three forced fumbles in his eight seasons. The 347-pound nose tackle was pivotal for their Super Bowl LV victory, anchoring a defense that was top-three in total yards allowed from 2019 to 2021, only giving up 92.6 rushing yards per game. That’s elite, man.
Maye Vs. Hurts: A Wild Practice Showdown
That joint practice between the Eagles and Patriots was something else. Drake Maye wasn’t just completing passes, he was spreading the ball around like crazy, hitting Pop Douglas, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, and top offseason acquisition A.J. Brown. He even capped it off by orchestrating a crisp two-minute drill that set up a 52-yard field goal from Andy Borregales. This is a rookie, folks! On the flip side, Jalen Hurts, who went 19 of 27, had a rough go with those three picks. This is a pivotal 2026 season for Hurts, who’s now adjusting to his seventh offensive coordinator in seven pro seasons with Sean Mannion running the show. That’s a lot of change for any QB. And if that wasn’t enough, A.J. Brown, playing against his former team for the first time since that June trade, caught seven passes from Maye. The real kicker? Brown told reporters after practice he hasn’t even spoken to Hurts, who is his daughter’s godfather, since the trade went down. Talk about bad blood, holy smokes.
This Wednesday gave us a peek behind the curtain. Vita Vea is a game-wrecker who just got paid, and the Bucs clearly aren’t messing around trying to get back to the postseason. But down in Philly, Eagles fans have got to be looking at that practice tape with some serious questions about their QB situation and how Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown’s relationship fell apart. Big storylines are definitely brewing as the season gets going!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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