Jalen Hurts has thrown passes to Minkah Fitzpatrick, but he doesn’t to do that on Sunday.

Hurts is the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback, and Fitzpatrick is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ free safety. Their NFL teams will square off at noon CST Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

MORE NFL:

· WHAT DOES PATRIOTS COACH BILL BELICHICK THINK OF JETS LINEBACKER C.J. MOSLEY?

· QUARTERBACK MALIK WILLIS ON STANDBY FOR TITANS

· ALEX LEATHERWOOD RETURNS TO BEARS’ ACTIVE ROSTER

In 2016 and 2017, Hurts and Fitzpatrick were teammates at Alabama. Hurts was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2016, when Fitzpatrick was a consensus All-American. The Crimson Tide won the CFP national championship for the 2017 season, when Fitzpatrick received unanimous All-American recognition and earned the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player and the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back.

“Thirty-nine’s a guy, you know where he is on the field,” Hurts said. “I have a lot of respect for him, knowing him personally, knowing the type of man he is, the character he has and the work he puts in. I remember a lot of nights where it’s a Saturday night or a Friday night and everybody’s out, and I’m thinking I’m the only one going to the weight room or to the field to do extra work. But Minkah was there, too. He played defensive back, and he’d go out there and run routes for me. That’s how versatile he was.

“Again, a lot of respect for Minkah. He’s been making big-time plays since I’ve known him.”

Hurts has thrown only two interceptions while Fitzpatrick has intercepted three passes this season.

RELATED: WORLD SERIES PRESENTS JALEN HURTS WITH DILEMMA

The Eagles are coming off their bye week after opening the season by winning all six of their games. Hurts won’t be satisfied if Philadelphia only picks up where it left off as it returns for its final 11 regular-season games.

“In my mind, it’s not even about coming back with the same type of urgency, sharpness,” Hurts said. “I think it’s about taking it to another level, and that’s one thing I’m personally challenging myself to do. Take it to another level. Take your focus to another level, take your preparation to another level and take that step.

“I think the only direction is to rise. I’ve said that. I believe that. That’s the mentality.”

RELATED: WEEK 8 SCHEDULE, TV, ODDS

While the Eagles seek to rise, the Steelers would like to get off the turf. Pittsburgh hasn’t finished a season with a losing record since 2003. But the Steelers have a 2-5 record in 2022, and the victories came by three points in overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 11 and two points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 16.

“They’re a great football team, well-coached,” Hurts said. “Got a lot of respect for coach Mike T(omlin). A lot of respect for him. I think with a team like this, they play hard and I think they’re a really good football team and they play really well on defense, so I think for us, we just have to be prepared for them giving us different looks. They’ve showed a lot of different things. We just have to be prepared for them and be able to execute.”

The Eagles are seeking the second 7-0 record in team history. In 2004, Philadelphia won its first seven games on its way to a 13-3 finish. That team won the NFC championship before losing to the New England Patriots 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

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