Get ready for a different Jalen Hurts, because the Eagles’ new offense is gearing up to unleash his legs like we haven’t seen in a minute. After a season where his rushing numbers took a serious dip, there’s a strong expectation for Hurts to “use his legs a little more” in 2026, and honestly, it’s about time.
The Rush Game Needed a Jolt
For four straight seasons, from 2021 through 2024, Jalen Hurts was tearing it up as one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, racking up at least 600 rushing yards every single year. That streak, though, snapped hard last season. He carried the ball just 105 times for a career-low 421 yards, averaging only 4.0 yards per attempt. You could feel that missing explosive element, right? It was a far cry from the Jalen we know can scramble and carve up defenses.
New OC Sean Mannion Is Changing Everything
Enter Sean Mannion, the new offensive coordinator, and he’s bringing a completely different vibe to the Eagles’ offense. They’re ditching the shotgun-heavy system that defined the Hurts era and instead, Mannion is leaning heavily into under-center formations and a ton of play-action. But here’s the kicker: ESPN’s Tim McManus is reporting that Mannion plans to dial up “a healthy amount” of designed runs for Hurts. This is a massive shift! With the receiving corps in flux after the A.J. Brown trade, leaving DeVonta Smith as the undisputed top target and newcomers Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Makai Lemon stepping into featured roles, it makes perfect sense. Leaning back into Hurts’ rushing ability is the smart play to keep that offense explosive and unpredictable while the new pieces get their chemistry locked in.
Now, nobody’s guaranteeing we’ll see a return to those 600-plus rushing yard seasons, and training camp buzz doesn’t always translate perfectly to the regular season, especially with a new play-caller still installing his system. But with Mannion’s stated intent and what we’ve seen in early practice reps, the vibe is clear: we are absolutely going to see a more dynamic Jalen Hurts in 2026. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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