Howie Roseman defends Jalen Hurts

Howie Roseman used the Eagles’ annual post-roster-cutdown media session to defend Jalen Hurts as Philadelphia heads into the 2026 season. Ashlyn Sullivan posted Roseman’s remarks to X on September 2, one day after the general manager spoke with reporters, framing them as a rebuttal to the “make-or-break” talk around the quarterback. Roseman’s comments extended a line he has taken publicly for months, as questions around Hurts have persisted after a 2025 season in which the Eagles went 11-6 and lost in the wild-card round. Philadelphia now opens 2026 with a new offensive structure under Sean Mannion and renewed scrutiny on its franchise quarterback. ### What exactly did Roseman say about Hurts? Ashlyn Sullivan said on September 2 that Roseman pushed back on the idea that 2026 is a “make-or-break” year for Hurts, citing the quarterback’s track record of winning and calling the local framing unfair. The X post linked Roseman’s remarks to the Eagles’ broader preseason message that the organization remains behind its starter. Howie Roseman said in an April 14 media session that recent reporting on Hurts was “unfair,” and added that if the team has an issue with a player, “we talk to them directly,” according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. (pro-football-reference.com) That earlier defense showed the team’s public stance well before final roster cuts and before this week’s renewed discussion. (x.com) ### Why is this coming up again now? September 1 put Roseman in front of reporters for his annual press conference after the Eagles set their initial 53-man roster. The timing matters because the roster deadline marks the shift from summer evaluation to Week 1 preparation, and questions about Hurts have followed the team through the offseason. The 2025 Eagles finished 11-6, won the NFC East and then lost 23-19 in the wild-card round, according to Pro Football Reference. (nbcsportsphiladelphia.com) That record kept Philadelphia in the playoff field, but it did not end debate about the offense after a season in which the team ranked 19th in points scored at 22.3 per game. ### What is fueling the “make-or-break” label? Jalen Hurts is entering a season with a new offensive play-caller and a system the team has said must improve. (eagles.1rmg.com) Eagles Wire, citing Roseman on September 2, reported that Hurts has embraced the offense under Sean Mannion as Philadelphia looks for a different look in 2026. (pro-football-reference.com) Sean Mannion’s arrival has made Hurts a central question of the Eagles’ season, because any offensive reset is judged first through the quarterback. NBC Sports Philadelphia reported in April that Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni were already answering questions about whether Hurts remained the right player to lead the offense after his uneven 2025 campaign. (theeagleswire.usatoday.com) ### What does Hurts’ record actually look like? Pro Football Reference lists Hurts as the Eagles’ starting quarterback across multiple playoff seasons since he took over the job, including Philadelphia’s 2025 playoff berth. Roseman’s argument, as relayed by Sullivan, leaned on that résumé rather than on one offseason debate cycle. April 14 was not the first time Roseman publicly defended Hurts, and that consistency is part of the story. (nbcsportsphiladelphia.com) From pre-draft availability in April to roster-cutdown week in September, the general manager has answered criticism by pointing back to the quarterback’s results and by disputing the way those questions are framed. (pro-football-reference.com) ### What happens next for Philadelphia? Week 1 now becomes the next test point for both Roseman’s defense and Hurts’ season. Roseman said on August 31 that preparations for Washington would stay “close to the vest,” and the Eagles’ official site lists that game as the team’s immediate focus after roster cuts. Jalen Hurts enters that opener as Philadelphia’s clear starter, with Sean Mannion directing the offense and Roseman still publicly backing his quarterback. (nbcsportsphiladelphia.com) The next set of answers will come on the field when the Eagles begin the 2026 regular season against Washington. (theeagleswire.usatoday.com) (eagles.1rmg.com)