David Carr's take on Jalen Hurts was good, until it was terrible

David Carr’s point that went viral on Tuesday was actually an interesting zig. He said on NFL Network’s Total Access that he does not believe Jalen Hurts should continue to play through his knee injury. Hurts is clearly not as mobile as he usually is, and because of that, the Philadelphia Eagles offense is not as effective as last season.

Until the No. 1 seed is decided in the NFC playoff picture, there is no way that Nick Sirianni is going to sit the Eagles’ starting quarterback. If the doctors and Hurts are comfortable with him on the field, he is going to play. However, Carr does have an argument.

The Eagles have already won 10 games this season. They are going to make the playoffs. Homefield advantage is not necessary for them to get to the Super Bowl. The Eagles are going to pound opposing teams on both lines of scrimmage, and on offense, they are going to let their skill-position talent fly. A completely healthy Hurts come postseason time would absolutely give Philly the best chance to win the Super Bowl.

If Carr had kept his argument along those lines, his hot take would have been fine. In explaining himself, though, he went too far. Before he even delivered the take, he said that Hurts is not comfortable dropping back as a passer and reading a defense, “some would say he’s not even good at it.”

That was the wrap on Hurts two years ago. In 2022, he was fourth in total QBR, trailing only Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes. Hurts is turning the ball over more this season with 10 interceptions after throwing only six total the previous one. However, he has already thrown 19 touchdown passes in 2023. He threw only 22 touchdowns last season.

Not only did Carr espouse a lazy narrative, but he also said that Marcus Mariotta — the Eagles’ backup QB — is a better option as a starter while Hurts is still gimpy.

I feel bad for Carr. He was a talented prospect coming out of Fresno State, but he was sent to an expansion franchise. The poor guy is probably still seeing defensive linemen in his sleep after being sacked 249 times in five seasons as a starter for the Houston Texans. He set a 16-game single-season record for being sacked 76 times. Carr is also third on that list for being sacked 68 times in 2005.

Circumstances can ruin a talented player. While there are certainly many sacks that Carr could have avoided, a team should not force a young player to try and stay clean in a dirt storm. I wish his playing career turned out better, but his Hurts argument went off the rails.

As long as Hurts’ throwing shoulder still works and he can move a couple of steps in each direction, he is a better quarterback than Mariota. The former No. 2 overall had his chances as an NFL starter. Mariota is a turnover machine and does not even out the bad plays with touchdowns.

The Eagles have a roster that could survive a player like Mariota at QB for a few games, if necessary. But Hurts’ health bar would have to be red and blinking before Mariota would be a better quarterback.

Carr was way off base in his explanation of what was actually a decent point. To get Hurts right for the playoffs, maybe the Eagles should sit him for a couple of games. It would be a radical decision, though, and the reason is that Hurts is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Until a doctor rules him out, he is a better quarterback than Mariota, even at less than 100 percent.