Jalen Hurts

Ahead of this weekend's slate of NFL games for Week 13, several teams and players showed off the cleats they will be wearing as parts of the "My Cause, My Cleats" campaign.

Since 2015, My Cause, My Cleats has allowed NFL players to wear customized cleats during games once per season in an effort to raise awareness and funds for various charities and causes.

Notably, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib will wear rainbow cleats Sunday against the Washington Football Team in support of The Trevor Project and the LGBTQ+ community:

Earlier this year, Nassib came out publicly as gay, and he later became the first out gay player to appear in an NFL regular-season game.

In addition to Nassib's footwear, here is a look at some other cleats that will be worn this weekend in the name of charitable endeavors:

Among the hundreds of charities that will be represented and showcased by NFL players in Week 13 are the ALS Association, the YMCA, the Special Olympics and the V Foundation.

While Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie believes Jalen Hurts can be the team's quarterback of the future, general manager Howie Roseman is reportedly "less confident" in the 23-year-old as the team's starting QB next season, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

The report comes after Hurts tossed three interceptions in a 13-7 loss to the New York Giants during Week 12. 

Hurts, a 2020 second-round pick, has been inconsistent this season, leading the Eagles to a 5-7 record. The Alabama and Oklahoma product has particularly struggled in the passing game, completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 2,435 yards and 13 touchdowns against eight interceptions. 

However, it's not hard to see why Lurie and Roseman appear to be split on Hurts.

The young signal-caller has been impressive on the ground, rushing for 695 yards and eight scores on 122 carries. He has thrived in a rushing offense that has been tailored to him, and an NFL executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic that Hurts is "hard to defend and the most athletic player on the field." 

It should also be noted that NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported before Sunday's road loss to the Giants that Hurts had the Eagles encouraged by his progress, making them less likely to pursue a big-name QB such as Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. So, Roseman's reported feelings could be reactionary. 

If the Eagles do want to move on from Hurts after the 2021 campaign, they could try to trade for one of those aforementioned quarterbacks. However, Philly also has three 2022 first-round draft picks and could use one to select a signal-caller. 

While there's not necessarily a top talent among the QBs expected to be available in the upcoming draft, Ole Miss' Matt Corral, Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett, Liberty's Malik Willis and North Carolina's Sam Howell represent intriguing options. 

Still, Hurts has five more games to impress Lurie and Roseman, in addition to a possible postseason appearance. If he can put together a convincing performance over the final stretch, maybe it will be enough to secure his job for 2022.  

Jalen Hurts erased any doubt about his availability for Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback said his injured ankle is "fine" and that "I'll be ready to go" in Week 13.

Earlier Wednesday, head coach Nick Sirianni struck an optimistic tone about Hurts' status.

"We're hopeful. We're feeling good," Sirianni told reporters. "He's feeling better every day. We're excited that we're going to have him out there at walkthrough today. So, really hopeful for him. … He'll be taking reps at walkthrough."

Hurts is currently nursing an ankle injury he suffered during a 13-7 defeat to the New York Giants in Week 12. 

The Eagles quarterback has thrown for 2,435 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2021. He has also run for 695 yards and eight scores while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

Philadelphia has a bye in Week 14. Assuming he gets through Sunday, Hurts have a full week afterward to rest and recuperate. Should there be an unforeseen setback for him, Gardner Minshew II would run the offense. 

Minshew made his Philadelphia debut in a 44-6 Week 8 hammering of the Detroit Lions. He went 2-of-2 for 11 yards.

In the event the 25-year-old is pressed into starting duty, it may not impact the passing game too much. He averaged 240.4 yards per game and threw for 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 23 appearances with the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The Jets also have one of the NFL's worst pass defenses. They're 29th in yards allowed (266.2 per game) and 31st in yards per attempt (8.2).

Whether Hurts or Minshew is throwing the passes, the situation favors Philadelphia this week. 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's loss to the New York Giants, per head coach Nick Sirianni.

Adam Schefter of ESPN relayed the news, noting the injury could impact Hurts' availability for Sunday's game at the New York Jets that precedes their Week 14 bye.

Hurts has completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns (eight interceptions) in addition to 122 carries for 695 yards and eight scores. 

The 23-year-old entered the 2021 season as the starter after taking over for the benched Carson Wentz last season during the team's Dec. 6 game against the Green Bay Packers.

The former Alabama and Oklahoma star completed 52.0 percent of his passes for six touchdowns (four interceptions) and carried the ball 63 times for 354 yards and three more scores. He got the chance to be the QB1 for the Eagles, who dealt Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts in March.

Gardner Minshew II is the next man up on the Eagles' quarterback depth chart if Hurts is out after the bye.

The third-year Washington State product spent his first two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 37 touchdowns (11 interceptions) and 6.9 yards per pass attempt in 23 games (20 starts).

Jacksonville selected Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, signaling a new era and different direction for the franchise. The Jags traded Minshew to the Eagles on Aug. 28, and he has gotten in one Eagles game, going 2-of-2 for 11 yards in a blowout victory over the Detroit Lions.

While Nick Sirianni scrutinized quarterback Jalen Hurts for his turnover-heavy performance in Sunday's 13-7 loss to the New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles head coach wouldn't place all of the blame on the former second-round pick. 

"It's never going to be an A, B, C or D if you turn it over three times, right? Obviously, he didn't play good enough," Sirianni said, per ESPN's Tim McManus. "And we didn't coach good enough. And it's all of us. It's never just one guy. We're going to look through that tape and we're going to have to make those corrections from that tape, but when you turn the ball over three times -- again, there are different things at play there -- but not a winning performance. Running the ball was good."

Hurts had a rough passing performance against the Giants on Sunday, completing just 14-of-31 passes for 129 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. It was one of his worst passing performances of the season. 

However, Hurts isn't necessarily known for being as much of a threat in the air. The 23-year-old has been much more effective on the ground, and he proved that on Sunday by rushing for 77 yards on eight carries. 

The Alabama and Oklahoma product also entered Sunday's game with 618 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, compared to 2,306 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns against five interceptions. 

However, Sirianni has only recently shifted his offense to be more run-heavy, and that should only continue to benefit Hurts as the season continues. Though, it's important to note the Texas native will need to improve his passing game to find success in the NFL. 

While Hurts has had an up-and-down season, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported before Sunday's game that the young quarterback had the Eagles encouraged by his progress, making them less likely to pursue a big-name QB such as Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson.

An NFL executive also told Mike Sando of The Athletic that Hurts is "hard to defend and the most athletic player on the field," so it should come as no surprise that Philadelphia believes he can be its quarterback of the future. 

Hurts is in just his first full season as Philadelphia's starter, and a lot could change before he's eligible for an extension. His rookie deal runs through the 2023 campaign.  

Jalen Hurts may be the quarterback of the future in Philadelphia after all.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Hurts' recent string of strong play has the Eagles encouraged in the Oklahoma product's progress, making them less likely to pursue Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or any other veteran option at the position. 

Hurts has led the Eagles to three wins in their last four games. He's coming off a big performance that saw him pass for 147 yards and rush for 69 and three touchdowns in a 40-29 win over the New Orleans Saints.

While Hurts is still not a great passer, he's been able to limit his mistakes while the Eagles dominated on the ground in this recent run of success.

"Jalen has just been consistent and steady," head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters of Hurts. "I think that's what you want out of your quarterback and out of the leader on the football team."

Hurts has also taken on an increasingly vocal leadership role in the Eagles locker room, further entrenching him as a voice among players. If he continues on this path, it would be hard to justify the Eagles moving on from him during the 2022 offseason.

Watson is a virtual lock to be traded, while it's possible Rodgers and/or Wilson will be available. The Packers and Rodgers appear in a far better place now than they were in the offseason when the reigning MVP tried to force his way out of Green Bay. If a power struggle between Wilson and Pete Carroll still exists behind the scenes, it's possible the team chooses its quarterback over its coach this offseason.

With a relatively weak quarterback class coming up in the 2022 draft, the Eagles may be better off in the long term building up the remainder of their roster while hoping Hurts improves as a passer.

Jalen Hurts has the Philadelphia Eagles back in the playoff hunt, and opposing teams are taking notice of the quarterback's impact on the field.

"The quarterback is hard to defend and the most athletic player on the field, who is hard to tackle," an NFL executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic.

Hurts showcased this ability in Sunday's win against the New Orleans Saints, totaling 69 rushing yards and three touchdowns. 

The second-year quarterback has 618 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season to go with his 2,306 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns.

The Oklahoma product's play has helped the Eagles win three of the last four games, improving to 5-6 after a 2-5 start to the year.  As Sando noted, Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni changed his approach from being pass-heavy to a run-first strategy that utilizes Hurts' strength as a runner. 

"They figured it out," another executive said. "Some coaches try to do everything instead of figuring out what your team does best and doing that."

Though some have questioned the 2020 second-round pick as a franchise quarterback, the 23-year-old has showed in recent weeks he can be the team's future.