Eagles Titans Football
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.(AP Photo/John Amis) ORG XMIT: TNCN216
John Amis/AP Photos
The first quarterback the Bears faced this season was the rarest of quarterbacks — a No. 1 overall pick so unimpressive his team didn’t extend his contract before the final year of his rookie deal.
The second had started just 14 games in the previous five seasons.
The third, former Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, will be a significant step up in class Monday night. It will be a telling test drive for a defense that’s already shown signs of leaking oil.
One week after a rainstorm served as a 12th man for both defenses, a Bears unit that gave up 37 points in the opener will face their best quarterback to date — and maybe until they see Drake Maye a month from now.
“It’s his ability to run of out the pocket, and just keep the play alive — and his deep ball,” safety Dillon Thieneman said.
The Eagles offense has underwhelmed in two wins this season under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, but Hurts has a 100.7 passer rating and ranks 11th in passing yards. His ability to run, though, is what most concerns defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
“When everything goes according to plan and he’s in a quick rhythm, he gets the ball out, throws the ball well, does all those things that you have to do at the quarterback position,” Allen said. “It’s really when things break down, and it doesn’t go as planned, that’s where he can really hurt you with his feet. That will definitely be a big part of what we have to contend with.”
His rushing skills go far beyond the “Tush Push,” too. He ran for 421 yards last year — more than Caleb Williams — and for eight touchdowns.
That running ability opens up opportunities for Hurts to throw deep — and wide.
Last year, his nine intended air yards per pass was the second-highest in the NFL. He has 279 yards when throwing outside the numbers this season and a 72% completion percentage that ranks fourth-highest in the league, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
The Bears’ outside cornerbacks need to answer this week’s test better than they did in Week 1. Against the Panthers, the Bears gave up three touchdowns and 196 yards on throws outside the numbers. Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson allowed a 113.7 and perfect 158.3 passer rating, respectively.
“For us, it’s just, ‘Continue to get better,’” Johnson said.
On “Black Friday” last year, Hurts went 19-for-34 passing for 230 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a loss to the Bears. A.J. Brown, who was responsible for all but 98 of the Eagles’ receiving yards, now plays for the Patriots. Tight end Dallas Goedert, their third-leading receiver last year, won’t play Monday because of a knee injury.
Saquon Barkley, of course, remains. Two years removed from a 2,005-yard rushing season, he’s been underwhelming over two games, rushing just 19 times for 92 yards.
“If you go low, he’ll jump,” Allen said. “If you stop your feet, he can go around you. He’s still fast and explosive and he can juke. There’s not really anything that he can’t do.”
Like Barkley, Hurts’ reputation precedes him.
“We know who he is — we know the success that he’s had,” Johnson said. “Just trying to get him rattled, trying to get him a little antsy in the pocket and things like that. Ultimately, like any other quarterback, you gotta hit him, gotta make him uncomfortable.”