The Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to embark on a new chapter in their offensive playbook. With the departure of longtime offensive coordinator Brian Johnson in favor of Kellen Moore, and the retirement of their esteemed center Jason Kelce, the team is facing significant changes.
Kelce, a likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer, was not only a pillar of leadership in the locker room but also a key figure on the offensive line. His responsibilities extended beyond just snapping the ball, as quarterback Jalen Hurts revealed that Kelce shouldered many duties that allowed Hurts to focus solely on his role.
“We had a great player in Jason Kelce who took on a lot of responsibility and as a result of that I was told not to worry about a lot of things,” Hurts mentioned in an interview on 94 WIP. “So my eagerness to learn over the years kind of was halted…but now times are different.”
Now, with Kelce gone, Hurts finds himself in uncharted territory. Not only is he adjusting to Moore’s new offensive scheme, but he also faces the challenge of taking on more calls at the line of scrimmage, something Kelce used to handle.
As the Eagles aim to rebound from their disappointing finish in 2023, Hurts must regroup after a rough stretch of games where he struggled to find his groove. The once-dominant quarterback lost six of his last seven starts, a stark contrast to his impressive record of 29-4 in his previous 33 games.
Despite the setback, Hurts can still rely on a talented supporting cast including A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and newcomer Saquon Barkley. However, Hurts acknowledges that there are aspects of the game he must now focus on that he previously didn’t have to, setting the stage for a challenging yet promising season ahead.