Eagles' Marcus Mariota: ‘I feel like I can help Jalen’

Eagles’ Marcus Mariota: ‘I feel like I can help Jalen’

After winning the Heisman Trophy at Oregon, quarterback Marcus Mariota entered the NFL as the second pick in the 2015 draft, and in his eight NFL seasons, has been the No. 1 QB for five, including the 2022 campaign with the Atlanta Falcons.

But in 2023, Mariota will back up a second-round draft choice with two seasons of starting experience.

In his second season, Jalen Hurts finished as the runner-up in the voting for The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award, and the former Alabama standout led the Philadelphia Eagles to the NFC championship and Super Bowl LVII.

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The Eagles signed Mariota after Gardner Minshew left Philadelphia for the Indianapolis Colts this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to, hopefully, help a younger guy out,” Mariota said. “I’m at a point in my career where I’ve experienced everything. I’ve been the guy, I’ve been the scout-team guy, I’ve been released, so through all those different situations and scenarios, I’ve just gathered a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge. I’m at a point in my career where I just want to enjoy the game. I want to have fun doing it.

“The scheme is very exciting for me. And the fact of the matter is, I feel like I can help Jalen. If we can make Jalen a better player, the team’s going to be better, and to be part of a team that was a play away from winning the Super Bowl is an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

Mariota played his first four NFL seasons as the starter for the Tennessee Titans. During those seasons, Mariota threw for 12,004 yards with 69 touchdowns and 42 interceptions and ran for 1,270 yards and 11 touchdowns.

But with the Titans on a five-game losing streak six games into the 2019 season, Tennessee benched Mariota for Ryan Tannehill, and he never got the job back.

Mariota spent two seasons as Derek Carr’s backup with the Las Vegas Raiders before returning to starting duty in Atlanta last season.

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Mariota started the first 13 games before giving way to rookie Desmond Ridder. Mariota finished 2022 on injured reserve and had surgery for a knee ailment.

Mariota threw for 2,219 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions and ran for 438 yards and four touchdowns las season.

Mariota’s move to Philadelphia gives the Eagles two of the seven quarterbacks who ran for at least 375 yards in 2022.

Hurts rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns while throwing for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions last season.

Mariota said his “knee feels great,” and he has returned to his offseason training regimen.

The Eagles are scheduled to open their offseason program on April 24.

“My role is just to provide information and share experiences,” Mariota said. “I think as a guy that’s played in the league for eight years – you know, I’ve been cut, I’ve been a starter, we’ve won playoff games, I’ve been benched, so I just really believe I can relate with a lot of guys. …

“But specifically for the quarterback position, ups and downs, you’re going to face them throughout your career. Just being a guy for Jalen and just being a resource any way that I can, hopefully, to make him better and make the team better.”

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