Jalen Hurts eager to face Kyler Murray after Cardinals QB's return from injury

Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray didn’t get to share the field as teammates at Oklahoma, but they’ll square off Sunday when the Eagles host the Cardinals.

In Murray’s comeback from a torn ACL in 2022, it’s been a process. But in six games, Murray showed flashes of his old self so far this season.

Hurts and Murray squared off twice in the NFL (2020 and ‘22), splitting the meetings. But it could be quite a show between the two this weekend.

“I’m happy to see him back on the field,” Hurts said Wednesday. “You know, he’s a very, very unique player in just how he plays and he’s a very special player. That’s a better way to say it, he’s a very special player. He’s always been a special player since high school. So it’ll be a challenge for us having to deal with him.”

In six games this season, Murray has 1,305 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions, a 62.3% completion percentage, 187 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns since his return.

The Eagles went to Arizona with Hurts against Murray last season and won 20-17. Hurts finished 26-of-36 passing for 239 yards, 61 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Murray was 28-of-42 passing for 250 yards, one touchdown, one interception and 42 rushing yards.

For now, the Cardinals (3-12) want to play spoiler against the Eagles (11-4). Philadelphia is in the NFC East lead by a game over the Dallas Cowboys and currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

Hurts and the Eagles broke a three-game losing streak to the New York Giants, 33-25, on Christmas Day. They look to make it a two-game winning streak Sunday.

“I mean, we play this game to win, you know,” Hurts said. “Winning is the only thing that matters. So of course that does something to you. I hope it does, if not, like my coach says, like (offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland says), you might want to get your saliva checked, you know? 

“But that’s why that’s why we play this game. Play this game to win. Play this game to learn through our experiences, because those are honestly, probably more valuable than any win or loss. Just the experience dealt in that moment. And so we’ve gotten a lot of experiences that we can call on from this year and year’s far from over. And we’re just just growing.”

To echo that, Hurts and Murray both look for a win Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET in Philadelphia.