Jalen Hurts offers Shedeur Sanders advice following first preseason game

One quarterback is six months removed from a MVP performance in Super Bowl LIX, and the other is fresh off an impressive preseason performance in his first NFL start as a rookie fifth-round draft pick. But on Wednesday, following a joint training camp practice between the Browns and Eagles, Jalen Hurts embraced the opportunity to […]

Jalen Hurts (Kyle Ross-Imagn Images) | Shedeur Sanders (Jeff Lange-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

One quarterback is six months removed from a MVP performance in Super Bowl LIX, and the other is fresh off an impressive preseason performance in his first NFL start as a rookie fifth-round draft pick.

But on Wednesday, following a joint training camp practice between the Browns and Eagles, Jalen Hurts embraced the opportunity to impart some well-earned professional wisdom on Shedeur Sanders. Sanders, the 23-year-old son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, took a post-practice ride in Hurts’ golf cart where the much-discussed quarterbacks discussed the challenges that often come with NFL stardom.

“I’ll keep the conversation intimate. We had a very lengthy conversation. He came to me and just wanted to talk,” Hurts told reporters following Wednesday’s practice, according to The Athletic’s Zach Berman. I’m always there … giving my perspective on what I see and how I’ve gone about things. Ultimately, it takes a great deal of patience and hard work and a sense of resilience. You’ve got to want it. You’ve got to want it. I’m supporting him from where I am and wishing him nothing but the best with his opportunities.”

Sanders experienced a bit of a setback Wednesday when he reportedly suffered an oblique injury while throwing during the early portion practice and was held out the remainder of the joint session with the Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The injury comes just days after Sanders had a breakout performance in his first start as a professional quarterback, when he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s preseason game against the Panthers. Sanders also tallied 19 rushing yards on four carries.

While the severity of Sanders’ oblique injury isn’t clear yet, the lost of valuable practice reps could be viewed as a detriment to any progress made in last week’s preseason game. Sanders continues to battle for opportunities in the Browns’ loaded quarterback room that also includes veterans Joe FlaccoKenny Pickett and newly-signed Tyler Huntley, as well as fellow rookie and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon.

Hurts, who’s experienced more than his fair share of career ups and downs, quieted his own NFL critics last season after leading the Eagles to a 40-22 win over the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs with an MVP performance in Super Bowl LIX, combining for 293 total yards and three touchdowns on Feb. 9 in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome.

Category: Football