New Eagles QB Kenny Pickett Is Reportedly Out Playing Jalen Hurts And Looking ‘Sharper’ At OTAs

Kenny Pickett and Jalen Hurts (Photos By Getty Images)

Some surprising details have emerged regarding the performances of Kenny Pickett and Jalen Hurts at Philadelphia Eagles OTAs.

Make no mistake, Jalen Hurts is the starting quarterback for the Eagles. This is no competition. But according to a report, the new kid in town is reportedly outperforming Hurts in the early stages of OTAs.

According to Eagles Today reporter Ed Kracz, Pickett “sharper that” Hurts during Wednesday’s OTAs session. Kracz added that the new Eagles’ quarterback “was consistently on target” with his throws:

The backup quarterback looked sharp, sharper than Jalen Hurts, to be honest. Hurts was on the money on his first two seven-on-seven throws, hitting A.J. Brown on a quick inside slant then following up with a nice sideline throw about 15 yards downfield. Pickett, though, was consistently on target. The Eagles can win games with him if something happens to Hurts.

In a surprise move, the Steelers traded Pickett to the Eagles, with the No. 98 pick coming to Pittsburgh as part of the return. The Steelers completely reshaped their QB room, signing Russell Wilson to a one-year deal before acquiring Justin Fields in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

Pickett was drafted by the Steelers in the first round (20th overall) in 2022. He struggled with consistency over his two years there, going 14-10 as a starter but throwing for only 13 touchdowns against as many interceptions.

But as the 2017 Eagles showed with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, quality quarterback insurance can save your season and even lead to a Super Bowl championship. So it was smart of the Eagles to ensure there’s a reliable option behind Jalen Hurts.

Jalen Hurts & Eagles Look To Rebound From Ugly 2023 Finish

The Eagles got off to an excellent 10-1 start last year and looked like the team to beat in the NFL, especially after they got past the Kansas City Chiefs in their Super Bowl rematch at Arrowhead Stadium.

But Philly inexplicably collapsed over the final month of the season, dropping five of their final six regular season games before getting crushed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Super Wild Card Weekend.

So it’ll be interesting to see how Hurts and the Eagles respond from the jaw-dropping collapse. Obviously, we know what they’re capable of after coming this-close to a Super Bowl 57 victory two seasons ago.