Jalen Hurts

The NFL has become so big that the mere release of the schedule has become an event in and of itself. The full 2022 regular-season schedule won't be posted until 8 p.m. ET Thursday. However, the league has done an excellent job of dropping morsels of information to build excitement.

Individual game information has slowly been revealed, beginning with last month's announcement of the first Thursday Night Football matchup. The Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs will do battle in an AFC West showdown to kick off the TNF series, which will be available for streaming on Amazon this year.

For those that may have missed it last night: the NFL announced its first game of the 2022 regular season schedule.

Week 2: Chargers at Chiefs on Thursday Night Football.

Mahomes, Herbert. Let's go.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 29, 2022

The NFL has also posted its international series for the coming season. In early May, the NFL announced three games slated to be played in London, one in Mexico and the first-ever game in Germany.

The Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals will all play international games in 2022.

The full slate for the 2022 International Series! 🏈🌍@NFLUK | @NFLDeutschland | @nflmx | @NFLEspanol pic.twitter.com/5wKFTpPEjQ

— NFL (@NFL) May 4, 2022

The game in Munich represents a big step in the league's efforts to expand into a global market, but some fans may remember that the NFL previously had a presence in Germany with NFL Europe, which ceased in 2007. The league's return should make for an entertaining affair.

While the matchup is less enticing now that Russell Wilson is no longer a member of the Seahawks, European fans will get an up-close look at Tom Brady.

The Los Angeles Rams are expected to open the season with a Thursday night game, as is customary for the defending champion. According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, the Saints will also visit the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. According to Underhill, the Saints will also play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6.

According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Detroit Lions in Week 1.

Earlier this week, the NFL announced a Monday Night Football doubleheader for Week 2. Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans will visit Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings will visit Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

The Week 2 slate also appears to feature the Packers in prime time. According to The Athletic's Matt Schneidman, Green Bay will host the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.

According to NBC, the Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football.

We know that the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions will both play on Thanksgiving because that's tradition. According to Brittany Bowen of D210Sports Dallas, the Cowboys will host the Cincinnati Bengals:

According to sources the NFL Thanksgiving Matchup for the Cowboys will be against the Bengals at 4:30 PM EST on FOX

— Brittany Bowen (@__brittbrat_) May 11, 2022

According to NewOrleans.Football, the Saints will play the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Eve, which falls on a Saturday. Per McLane, the Eagles will play Dallas on Christmas Eve. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Rams and Denver Broncos will play on Christmas.

While not every matchup has been confirmed or officially announced, here's how everything we've covered looks in schedule format.

    

NFL 2022 Schedule, Leaks and Rumors

Week 1 

TBD at Los Angeles Rams (Thursday opener)

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions

   

Week 2

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (TNF)

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (SNF)

Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (MNF)

Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (MNF)

    

Week 4

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (London)

Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF)

    

Week 5

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers (London)

    

Week 6

Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints

    

Week 8

Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars (London)

     

Week 10

Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Munich)

     

Week 11

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (Mexico City)

     

Week 12

Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving)

TBD at Detroit Lions (Thanksgiving)

     

Week 16

New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams

The 2022 NFL draft took place last weekend, and while there were plenty of news-making picks, the biggest impact move of all entailed a veteran player changing teams.

The trade that sent A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles made him the latest big-name pass-catcher to move franchises and sign a massive contract. It gave the Eagles offense a major boost as they attempt to keep pace with (or surpass) the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East.

And it cranked up the pressure on third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts to take a big leap as a passer and lead the Eagles not only to the postseason but also on a long run once they get there.

Or else.

There had been speculation for some time that in an offseason when star receivers such as Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill were already moved that Brown (who was looking for a big payday heading into his fourth season) could be dealt. And as Thursday's first round moved along, the deal was struck—for the 18th pick and a third-rounder, Tennessee sent Brown to the Eagles. Philadelphia then gave Brown his payday: $100 million over four years with $57.2 million guaranteed.

It was a blockbuster that put smiles on faces all over the City of Brotherly Love. Per ESPN's Tim McManus, head coach Nick Sirianni lauded the impact that Brown will have on the Eagles offense.

"We're really excited to have [Brown] on this team," Sirianni said. "He's a strong man, he's quick for a big guy and he catches everything. There is no projection. You've seen him do it in the NFL for three years now."

General manager Howie Roseman echoed those sentiments: "Really excited to get him just in terms of how [Sirianni] can use him and his vision for A.J. Brown in this offense and how he complements the other guys that we have here. As you guys may or may not know, his relationship with our quarterback—all exciting things. Looking forward to getting him into Philadelphia."

That relationship Roseman mentioned dates to 2016, when Brown and Hurts were both recruited by Alabama. Hurts chose the Crimson Tide before eventually transferring to Oklahoma. Brown went to Ole Miss.

Now the duo will play together for the first time, and as Hurts told Josh Tolentino of the Philadelphia Inquirer, he can't wait to get out on the field with his new No. 1 receiver.

"He's always been an excellent player since I've known him [before] college," Hurts said. "He's always had the ability to make plays with the ball in his hand, use his body, box out defenders, break tackles. He's a great addition to a great receiver room we have now, and I'm excited."

DeVonta Smith, who led the Eagles in receptions (64) and receiving yards (916) last year as a rookie, said he can't wait to learn from Brown, who eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two professional seasons.

"I'm excited, just to learn from a guy like him," Smith told reporters. "Anytime you play football, you watch all the different receivers, just seeing what everybody has in their toolbox. So him being here, just being able to learn from him [is helpful]."

The honeymoon is in full effect.

That Brown adds a new dynamic to the Eagles offense is undeniable. At 226 pounds, he weighs over 50 pounds more than Smith. The latter did what he could for a team that went 9-8 and squeaked into the playoffs in Sirianni's first season, but the depth chart at wide receiver fell off a cliff after him.

Teams will face quite the predicament now. Double Brown, and Smith can use his speed and quickness to wreak havoc against single coverage. Flip the script, and Brown does the same with his size and speed.

Add a very good pass-catching tight end in Dallas Goedert to the mix, and Hurts suddenly has an impressive array of passing-game weaponry. One of the team's weaknesses has become a strength.

The question is whether Hurts can take advantage of it.

The cold, hard truth is that Hurts' legs have been a bigger threat to opposing defenses over his first two seasons than his right arm. His completion percentage climbed considerably last year, but he's still under 60 percent in that category for his career. In 15 starts in 2021, he threw just 16 touchdown passes. There have been missed reads. Inaccurate passes. And a general inability to throw the ball vertically with any consistency.

Even Hurts admitted to reporters that his consistency needs to improve in 2022.

"That's my whole entire approach going into Year 3 for me," Hurts said. "Consistency in this league is everything. Ultimately, the work is being put in now, but that's what I'm chasing."

As The Athletic's Zach Berman reported, for now at least, Hurts has the confidence of the only person whose opinion really matters—Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie:

"I think what you do know is you have a guy that is incredibly dedicated, (an) excellent leader of men. Players around him gravitate toward him. He will do anything and everything to get better and work on every weakness he has and try to maximize every strength that he has. That's why we're committed to Jalen at age 23."

That commitment isn't exactly ironclad. The Eagles didn't draft a quarterback, but no one really expected them to, especially given the perceived weakness of the class at the position. What the Eagles did do (according to reports) was make an offer for Russell Wilson. And kick the tires on a trade for Deshaun Watson…hard.

Those deals didn't happen, but while acquiring Brown is (on paper) a big boost for the Eagles offense, it doesn't help Hurts' job security. In fact, the increased expectations that come with his arrival Hurt(s) it.

OK, that was bad. "Pun"ishable even.

I'll stop now.

There are exactly zero excuses left for Hurts. He has already shrugged off February ankle surgery and proclaimed himself ready for OTAs. The Brown trade emphatically erases any questions about the wideout room. Philly's running backs aren't Cleveland's, but no team in the league averaged more yards per game on the ground in 2021. The team's offensive line ranked inside the top five last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Defensively, the Eagles fielded a top-10 unit last year in terms of yards per game allowed and drafted a pair of potential immediate starters in defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean. On paper (there's that phrase again), these Eagles look every bit as formidable as the Cowboys. Maybe better. There's already chatter that the Eagles (and not Dallas) are the best team in the NFC East.

But as ESPN's Marcus Spears said on Get Up (via Kevin Manahan of NJ.com), if Hurts doesn't get better in 2022, it's all going to be for naught:

"If you think about the move for A.J. Brown and DeVonta (Smith) being drafted last year, Jalen Hurts is in a year like (Dolphins quarterback) Tua Tagovailoa. Both of those guys are in identical years when you start talking about what their teams have done to set them up for success. There is no better way to set a quarterback up than to go get a guy like A.J. Brown ... (but) Jalen Hurts is in a year where he's going to have to prove it."

Now, it's possible that Hurts will improve. That he'll make the most of Brown's arrival. Make better reads. He doesn't have to be perfect. He just has to be more consistent as a thrower for the Eagles to win the division. Make some hay after.

But while there's a big opportunity here, there's big-time pressure too. If the Eagles start slowly, it won't take long for the phone banks on sports talk shows in Philly to light up. If the Hurts we saw face-plant in his first postseason start (or anything close to him) shows up in September, things will get ugly…quick.

We've actually already seen this movie, or at least a variation of it. After the Eagles started last season 2-5, there were all kinds of calls for Sirianni to bench Hurts.

If the 2022 season starts with anything but wins after the trade for Brown, it won't take seven weeks for those calls to ramp back up. 

On the heels of their stunning move to acquire A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was apparently one of the driving forces behind the deal. 

Speaking to NFL Network's James Palmer, general manager Howie Roseman said Hurts has been "whispering" in the ear of Eagles management about acquiring the star wide receiver. 

Philadelphia sent picks No. 18 and 101 in the 2022 NFL draft to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Brown. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Eagles signed Brown to a four-year, $100 million contract extension with $57 million guaranteed. 

It wasn't a secret that Brown, who was entering the final season of his rookie contract, wanted a new deal. He is only going to count $3.99 million against the cap in 2022 before his extension kicks in. 

Despite Brown's stance on wanting a new contract, Titans general manager Jon Robinson attempted to quiet any speculation that the 24-year-old would be traded. 

"I do not foresee that happening," Robinson told reporters on April 21. 

The market for wide receivers has exploded this offseason. Davante Adams signed the then-richest deal for a wideout in NFL history (five years, $141.25 million) after being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Tyreek Hill surpassed Adams' deal in average annual salary when he signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Miami Dolphins after being traded by the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Stefon Diggs got a four-year, $104 million extension from the Buffalo Bills. 

Per Spotrac, Hill, Adams, Brown and Diggs are now four of the five highest-paid wide receivers by average annual salary thanks to their new contracts. DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals ranks third on the list at $27.25 million.

Brown joins an Eagles receiving group that also includes DeVonta Smith and Zach Pascal. Philadelphia hasn't had a wide receiver break the 1,000-yard barrier since Jeremy Maclin in 2014. (Tight end Zach Ertz had 1,163 yards in 2018.)

It's not hard to figure out why Hurts would have pushed the Eagles to acquire Brown. The Ole Miss alum has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL through his first three seasons. He had 2,995 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns on 185 receptions in 43 games with the Titans. 

After making the playoffs last season with a 9-8 record, the Eagles are surrounding Hurts with big-play weapons on the outside to make things easier on him as a passer. He threw for 3,144 yards and 16 touchdown passes in 2021.    

The Philadelphia Eagles acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans in a draft-day trade on Thursday.

With the deal, Brown received a four-year extension worth $100 million ($57 million guaranteed), per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Eagles now have one of the most dynamic passing trios in all of football, with Brown and wideout Devonta Smith working with quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The Brown trade is a huge fantasy win for everyone involved from a fantasy perspective.

Smith excelled last year as a rookie, recording 64 catches for 916 yards and five touchdowns as the Eagles' No. 1 target.

With Brown now in the mix to take some attention away from Smith, the ex-Alabama star could be in line to make some serious damage. He's a clear WR2 in fantasy football next year, with the ability to creep into WR1 territory.

Brown has a 17-game average of 73 catches, 1,184 yards and nine touchdowns over his three-year career. Needless to say, he's an absolute star who should clearly be in WR1 territory next year. There's already built-in chemistry with Hurts, too, as the two are close.

Plus, Hurts and Brown's strengths match, as Nathan Jahnke of PFF noted.

A.J. Brown has 970 receiving yards on intermediate passes the last 2 seasons, 2nd most in the NFL

Jalen Hurts had an 85.0 PFF grade throwing intermediate routes last season, 10th best in the NFL

— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) April 29, 2022

Hurts ran for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, so he's a dynamic force at quarterback even without considering the passing aspect. But with Brown now in the mix, he's got another massive target to throw to and should easily be in the QB1 discussion.

The bottom line is that the Eagles might have a top-five offense with the addition of Brown, and that's great news for the team's top trio fantasy-wise.

Any questions about whether Jalen Hurts would remain the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback in 2022 were put to rest Wednesday after executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman said there was "no doubt" that would be the case.

"There's no doubt about it," Roseman said at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis when asked whether Hurts was still the team's QB1, per ESPN.com's Tim McManus.

"We have Jalen Hurts, who is a 23-year-old quarterback who led his team to the playoffs, and he's going to get better and better and better. He's going to do everything possible to get better, and we have to do our part in [helping] that."

In his first full year as the Eagles' starting quarterback, Hurts completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions and averaged 7.3 yards per attempt.

He also rushed for 784 yards and 10 more scores en route to helping lead the 9-8 Eagles to an NFC Wild Card berth.

Hurts took over as the team's starting quarterback from Carson Wentz, who was benched in December 2020 and later traded to the Indianapolis Colts.

The 2019 Heisman Trophy finalist was a big reason why the Eagles improved from 4-11-1 to over .500.

The offense also went from No. 26 in scoring the year prior to No. 12 in 2021. The connection between college teammates Hurts and No. 1 wideout DeVonta Smith served as a big reason why, with the ex-Alabama star setting a franchise rookie season-long record with 916 receiving yards.

Hurts also put the team on his back multiple times, including when he rushed for three touchdowns in a 40-29 win over the New Orleans Saints. 

Philadelphia could stand to add more weapons around Hurts, potentially pushing the 23-year-old's ceiling even higher. Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert and wide receiver Quez Watkins were the only players on the team to have at least 300 receiving yards last year. 

The Eagles will have numerous chances to do just that in April's draft thanks largely to their three first-round picks (Nos. 15, 16 and 19).

For now, Hurts' place atop the quarterback depth chart is rightfully secure.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is reportedly undergoing ankle surgery Wednesday.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Hurts was impacted by an ankle injury late in the season but played through it, including during a playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pelissero also noted that Hurts is expected to be fully recovered in time for OTAs.

Durability has been one of the 23-year-old's strong points early in his career, as he played 15 games in each of his first two seasons in the league. However, he conducted his postgame press conference in a walking boot after the playoff loss to the Bucs ended his 2021 campaign.

"It's something I've been battling with," he told reporters. "I didn't play good enough today."

Hurts impressed at times during the 2021 campaign by throwing for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 784 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

His ability to make plays with his legs in addition to his arm is his greatest strength, although there is still some question about whether he can be the long-term franchise quarterback in Philadelphia.

Assuming he is still under center to start the 2022 campaign, Hurts will face plenty of pressure as he looks to prove himself as a quarterback who can make tight-window throws in addition to his impressive runs.      

Don't expect the Philadelphia Eagles to use their war chest of first-round picks to acquire a new starting quarterback.

General manager Howie Roseman said Jalen Hurts has earned the starting job for the 2022 season during his season-ending press conference Wednesday.

"We talk about Jalen and the growth he had. Really, first-year starter, second-year player, leading this team to the playoffs. Tremendously impressed by his work ethic, his leadership. The last time we talked was during camp, and we said we wanted to see him take the bull by the horn, and he certainly did that," Roseman said.

Howie Roseman on @JalenHurts pic.twitter.com/fKUvYqth4E

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 19, 2022

Hurts threw for 3,144 yards and 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions and added 784 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground during the regular season, leading the Eagles to a surprising 9-8 record and a wild-card berth.

The Eagles were overmatched in a 31-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, falling behind on the game's opening drive and never seeming like a serious threat to the defending champs. Hurts struggled without the help of a running game, throwing for 258 yards and a touchdown against two interceptions.

“We just want to continue to do the things that got us here,” Hurts told reporters after the loss. “As an offense, we’ve revolutionized and evolved in terms of who we are and our identity. I’ve said different things to ignite the growth. Early on, we were searching for who we were.”

The Eagles have picks Nos. 15, 16 and 19 in the 2022 NFL draft, which makes them a prime candidate to potentially trade for a star-level quarterback if they were so inclined. Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are among the names that could be available this offseason, but this Eagles roster isn't a quarterback away from Super Bowl contention. 

The more prudent move—and the one Roseman appears committed to for the time being—is using those picks to continue building a structure around Hurts and give him the 2022 season to prove he can make strides as a passer. A version of these Eagles with a loaded young defense and Hurts leading a ground-heavy offensive attack could be formidable next season.

If Hurts struggles, however, a solid infrastructure will already be in place for the next quarterback.