What Mac Jones mentioned about going through former Alabama teammate Jalen Hurts in Week 1

Patriots

Jones, who backed up Hurts in faculty, will go head-to-head along with his former teammate on Sunday.

Mac Jones Photograph by Patrick McDermott/Getty Picture
  • Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in action during the NFC Championship NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.

    Eagles QB Jalen Hurts believes former Alabama teammate Mac Jones will do ‘huge issues this yr’

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It’s not typically that an NFL quarterback says that they’re “happy with” a counterpart on an opposing crew.

However, Mac Jones’s relationship with Jalen Hurts isn’t typical. Jones backed up Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa in faculty at Alabama.

The Patriots quarterback says he discovered fairly a bit from the Eagles quarterback throughout their time collectively.

“He’s clearly an important participant,” Jones mentioned. “I’ve been lucky to play with him and be taught quite a bit from him. He’s undoubtedly an important quarterback. I simply suppose again to the instances we had, and I’m simply actually happy with him and all the things he’s completed within the NFL.”

Hurts loved a breakout season final yr, incomes his first Professional Bowl choice and main the Eagles to an look within the Tremendous Bowl. Hurts signed a 5-year, $255 million contract with Philadelphia through the offseason.

One of many issues that units Hurts aside on the quarterback place is his working potential. Jones mentioned the primary factor he discovered from working with Hurts was conditioning.

“I assume conditioning is the very first thing,” Jones mentioned. “Me and him had been all the time working towards one another. He’s undoubtedly quicker than me, however I really feel like I gave him a superb run for his cash.”

“However, I’ve discovered quite a bit from him simply main off the sector and within the 4th quarter (offseason conditioning) program we had,” Jones continued. “He simply did such a superb job working, main, by no means exhibiting any feelings. He simply did his factor. I discovered quite a bit from him there, after which on the sector there’s quite a bit too, so I actually admire him.”

Hurts ultimately transferred from Alabama and completed his faculty profession at Oklahoma. Jones mentioned he discovered from the best way Hurts dealt with the state of affairs.

“I feel there’s lots of studying classes and, undoubtedly took lots of that. Like to see him bounce again and do an important job,” Jones mentioned. “In faculty, he went by quite a bit, he transferred, performed effectively in all places he’s been. It’s simply who he’s. It’s Jalen Hurts. He’s only a nice participant, an important particular person and a superb pal.”