Jalen Hurts has priceless exchange following 1st INT of training camp

Ryan OLeary

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Jalen Hurts has priceless exchange following 1st INT of training camp image

Darius Slay was happy to talk about his easy interception during the final practice of Philadelphia Eagles training camp.

Jalen Hurts? Not so much.

The pair shared the perfect exchange after Slay ended Hurts’ streak of 305 consecutive training camp throws without an INT, even if the 12-year veteran cornerback did most of the talking.

“Nah, he don’t like to talk to me when I pick him off,” Slay joked with reporters following Wednesday’s practice. “He get kind of mad at me a little bit. But it’s OK. I’m going to go give him a hug and stuff.”

It’s understandable why Slay and other members of the Eagles defense would have some fun with this one. Flip the stat around, and the defense went 15 consecutive training camp practices without running one back on Hurts. That’s not exactly the kind of stat you go home and brag about at the dinner table.

“The media been talking about that all camp,” Slay said of the storyline. “Yeah, I’ve been aware of it.”

To borrow one from Allen Iverson, we’re talking about practice here. Hurts’ streak doesn’t make him the favorite to win league MVP. But there is a serious underlying conversation that's worth having. The Eagles had a woeful turnover margin of minus-10 in 2023. Only eight teams in the league finished with single-digit interceptions on defense, and the Eagles were one of them (9). Philly’s offense had the 10th-most turnovers in football, with Hurts himself tossing 15 interceptions and losing five fumbles. The team will have to drastically improve in both areas to get where it wants to go in 2024. 

By all accounts, Hurts had an excellent training camp. He’s building a solid rapport with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who has praised the QB’s ability to protect the football while staying aggressive and running the offense. Head coach Nick Sirianni has echoed those sentiments.

Hurts nearly pitched a perfect training camp. As for his lone interception, he responded to Slay in the most Jalen Hurts fashion ever. 

“I told him, ‘About time,’” Hurts quipped.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.