Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Faces Uncertainty Over Postseason Rushing Role
As the Philadelphia Eagles enter the playoffs, fans are wondering whether Jalen Hurts will return to form by dialing up his rushing game. However, Hurts' history of big runs has been overshadowed by a recent trend: fewer rushing yards.
In 2025, Hurts set a personal best with 25 passing touchdowns and had more passing yards than ever before, but he rushed for just 421 total yards – the lowest amount since becoming the full-time starter in 2021. His average rushing yards per game have dropped year after year, including a 15-yard decline from 2022 to 2023 and almost 16-yard dropoff from last season.
One reason for this decrease is the Eagles' new offense under first-year coordinator Kevin Patullo, which seems to be playing it safe with designed runs. According to NFL Pro, Hurts averaged only 1.7 designed rush attempts per game this season – a career-low in his five years as starter.
However, designed run data doesn't tell the whole story. Scrambling yards are also down for Hurts, who was more reluctant to extend plays and take hits. In fact, he scrambled on just 19.8% of his dropbacks this season – the second-highest rate in his career.
This decrease in scrambling is attributed to Hurts' self-preservation strategy, which helped him avoid injuries throughout the regular season for the first time in his starting career. But this has meant that defenders can focus more on stopping him by the pocket rather than being worried about a potential carry.
Will Hurts return to form and dial up his rushing game in the playoffs? While there's evidence to suggest he might be more aggressive with designed runs, especially since averaging 3.8 per game in the four playoff games last season, it's unlikely that he'll suddenly start taking risks like he did before. The reality is that Hurts will likely run about as often or perhaps a tick more than he did in the regular season – and maybe that's enough for the Eagles to succeed in the postseason.
The Eagles have shown improvement in various areas this season, but their third-down offense remains a concern. Will they be able to find ways to overcome this weakness in the playoffs? Only time will tell.
As the Philadelphia Eagles enter the playoffs, fans are wondering whether Jalen Hurts will return to form by dialing up his rushing game. However, Hurts' history of big runs has been overshadowed by a recent trend: fewer rushing yards.
In 2025, Hurts set a personal best with 25 passing touchdowns and had more passing yards than ever before, but he rushed for just 421 total yards – the lowest amount since becoming the full-time starter in 2021. His average rushing yards per game have dropped year after year, including a 15-yard decline from 2022 to 2023 and almost 16-yard dropoff from last season.
One reason for this decrease is the Eagles' new offense under first-year coordinator Kevin Patullo, which seems to be playing it safe with designed runs. According to NFL Pro, Hurts averaged only 1.7 designed rush attempts per game this season – a career-low in his five years as starter.
However, designed run data doesn't tell the whole story. Scrambling yards are also down for Hurts, who was more reluctant to extend plays and take hits. In fact, he scrambled on just 19.8% of his dropbacks this season – the second-highest rate in his career.
This decrease in scrambling is attributed to Hurts' self-preservation strategy, which helped him avoid injuries throughout the regular season for the first time in his starting career. But this has meant that defenders can focus more on stopping him by the pocket rather than being worried about a potential carry.
Will Hurts return to form and dial up his rushing game in the playoffs? While there's evidence to suggest he might be more aggressive with designed runs, especially since averaging 3.8 per game in the four playoff games last season, it's unlikely that he'll suddenly start taking risks like he did before. The reality is that Hurts will likely run about as often or perhaps a tick more than he did in the regular season – and maybe that's enough for the Eagles to succeed in the postseason.
The Eagles have shown improvement in various areas this season, but their third-down offense remains a concern. Will they be able to find ways to overcome this weakness in the playoffs? Only time will tell.