Former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts is Facing a Very Serious Problem

Former Alabama Crimson Tide star Jalen Hurts is facing some serious trouble heading into Week 5 of the NFL season.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback just saw two critical members of his offensive line depart, as tackle Lane Johnson retired and center Cam Jurgens was traded.

Additionally, running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver DeVonta Smith might both miss the Eagles' upcoming matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

Barkley left last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams due to a hamstring issue and didn't practice Wednesday. Smith was also held out of practice because of his own hamstring injury that kept him out of the Rams game altogether.

So just how will Hurts manage, especially after going just 12-for-27 with 93 yards in the Eagles' Week 4 loss?

Former Eagles defensive end Chris Long doesn't seem to have a whole lot of faith in the former Alabama signal-caller, saying during a recent episode of his Green Light Podcast that he has yet to see him perform without all-world talent around him and that he simply doesn't think Hurts is as good as some believe.

We heard the same chatter surrounding Hurts last year when he was mired in his beef with wide receiver A.J. Brown, who expressed clear displeasure with Hurts throughout the campaign and was traded back in June.

Hurts could absolutely use the injuries around him as an excuse going into Week 5. The Eagles are in dire straits right now, and Hurts doesn't have a whole lot of help.

But at the same time, Hurts' biggest critics have accused him of essentially being a system quarterback, much in the same way that Long just did.

So it's essentially put up or shut up time for Hurts, who won a Super Bowl two years ago, but still has not convinced everyone that he is a true franchise quarterback.

In fact, last season, some were even calling for Hurts to be benched ... much like he lost his job to Tua Tagovailoa in Tuscaloosa, which resulted in his transfer to Oklahoma.

Hurts' problems are clear. He lacks throwing accuracy, and he doesn't have the strongest arm. And while he displayed tremendous leadership qualities early on in his NFL career, those attributes seem to have faded as time has progressed.

The 28-year-old has two more years remaining on the five-year, $255 million extension he signed with Philadelphia in April 2023, but if he continues at this rate, he might not make it through his entire contract.

Hurts has an opportunity to silence his doubters against the Jaguars this weekend ... or to make them even louder.