Wide receivers’ return boosts Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

For the first time since the season-opening game, the Philadelphia Eagles had wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith on the field at the same time. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a touchdown pass to each as the Eagles came out of their bye with a 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Brown had missed the past three games because of a hamstring injury. A concussion kept Smith off the field in the Eagles’ previous game.

Hurts completed 16-of-25 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Hurts’ passing-efficiency rating for 126.1 was his best of the season by 37 points, even though Philadelphia lost tight end Dallas Goedert, the Eagles’ leading receiver this season, to a hamstring injury on the third snap of the game.

The former Alabama QB also had 14 rushing attempts for 33 yards, including three kneel-downs to close the game and a 6-yard option run before that for a first down that helped the Eagles run out the final 3:54 on their victory.

The win lifted Philadelphia’s record to 3-2 for the 2024 season. Cleveland dropped to 1-5.

“In five games, there’s only been one time where we really just had everyone out there – our clean-slate, first unit, first group,” Hurts said. “And so that definitely presents a challenge in itself that we have to overcome as a team. But I’m very proud of how they were prepared to step up and be ready.”

Brown had five receptions for 119 yards and one touchdown in the Eagles’ 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 6. He returned with six receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown against Cleveland.

A former Alabama All-American, Smith had three receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown on Sunday.

Hurts capped Philadelphia’s fourth possession with a 22-yard touchdown toss to Brown as the Eagles took a 10-0 lead with 7:17 left in the first half.

With the score tied 13-13, Hurts and Smith connected for a 45-yard touchdown with 7:54 to play.

After the Browns cut the lead to four points with a field goal with 3:54 remaining, Hurts had a 40-yard completion to Brown with 1:49 left that allowed Philadelphia to run out the clock.

“Good to come out with a win, especially after all the work that we’ve put in,” Hurts said, “all the conversations that I’ve had with everyone. It’s good to win. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day. We all come here, put our time, our efforts, our energy and spend so much time with one another just to chase this common goal. That’s team football, and today, I think we played Eagles football. Got to clean up some things. … But ultimately we’re building. It’s always good to build off of a win.”

For the first time this season, Hurts completed a game without losing a turnover. Hurts had thrown four interceptions and lost three fumbles in Philadelphia’s first four games.

“I thought Jalen played an unbelievable game today,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “… I thought Jalen operated at a very high level.”

Philadelphia plays the New York Giants at noon CDT Oct. 20 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.