During his press conference on Wednesday, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts became the one asking the questions. A stream of inquiries concerning his phone call to former New York defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale after a loss to the Giants in the 2023 regular-season finale prompted Hurts to ask: “Where is this coming from?”

The story of Hurts’ unusual phone call was way down in an ESPN’s story released on Wednesday with the headline: “Eagles look to bridge (coach) Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts divide.”

The Martindale anecdote was hardly the point of the story, which said: “ESPN spoke with several sources who detailed a prolonged strain between Hurts and Sirianni during the 2023 campaign, with one source with direct knowledge of the dynamic describing the relationship as ‘fractured’ and unhealthy.”

In reference to a second question by the quarterback about the Martindale inquiries – “It seems so long ago. Why is it relevant now?” – Hurts was told the story was “trying to give context on what happened last season to get a better understanding of where we are now.”

The former Alabama quarterback issued his response after only the Martindale incident had been mentioned, but he might have had the same response if the headline of the article had been the subject of the questions.

“Sometimes I think people are only able to know what they understand,” Hurts said. “Sometimes people don’t know what they don’t know. But I think in that regard, where we are is you have reports and you have rumors and then you have reality. And we’re in reality right now. You got different people doing different things and you have different responsibilities in a natural nature, but, ultimately, we’re just attacking it day-by-day. This team is putting its best foot forward in effort, in intensity and just really being a team and being together. And that’s my whole entire message this whole entire training camp and this whole offseason, so it’s been a good journey so far.

“My natural nature is – because I didn’t know about it – to block out the external factors because I think there comes a point where sometimes you question so much and the negativity becomes redundant. This team is one of those teams that’s going to do that, especially with the things that we’ve been able to experience, and it is a proper development.”

Hurts called Martindale after the Eagles lost to the Giants 27-10 on Jan. 7.

Now the defensive coordinator for the University of Michigan, Martindale spent 22 seasons as an NFL assistant, including as the blitz-heavy defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Giants.

“I’ve been doing this for 40 years,” Martindale told ESPN, “and it’s the first time I’ve had an opposing quarterback call me up. I thought it was pretty cool that the guy called. It shows you what kind of pro he really is. He’s just looking at every angle that he can to get better.”

Philadelphia lost its next game 32-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the NFL playoffs to close the 2023 season with six losses in its final seven games after the Eagles opened with 10 victories in the first 11.

“They weren’t committed to the run,” Martindale said of Philadelphia’s fall. “They weren’t committed to the quarterback runs. They were trying to throw the ball a little bit too much on early downs, which put them behind the sticks. That’s when defenses can go to work.”

Hurts said on Wednesday he called Martindale “to pick his brain, see what he saw in us and try and get some tips on some things.”

“I think it’s more so for me trying to pour into my cup in terms of knowledge,” Hurts said. “I’ve had a lot of respect for what he’s done. We’ve had a lot of success versus him. I think that was a point where we were trying to make a run and make a push. I was just trying to pour into my cup the knowledge from him and pick his brain on some things. A very respectable person, actually a great person, in that a great coach and has a great mentality about how he goes about his business.”

Hurts said he regularly talks with Eagles assistant coach Vic Fangio, who’s preparing for his 16th season in the NFL as a defensive coordinator.

“I know I’ve joked about competitiveness between the two of us,” Hurts said. “But having those conversations with him and seeing what certain techniques defensive backs are playing and what his intentions are behind each play, what is he trying to take away, what is he vulnerable at, all of that is just an extra tool for me in my development in understanding where the voids are so I can play better football.”

Philadelphia is scheduled to kick off its preseason schedule against the Baltimore Ravens at 6:30 p.m. CDT Friday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Hurts answered “not necessarily” when asked if he thought it was important to play in the preseason.

“I think it’s important for me to come out here in practice and really push the threshold in terms of where we are as an offense and where my game is,” Hurts said.

On Wednesday, Sirianni wouldn’t say if the Eagles would play their starters against the Ravens.

“We’ll see,” Sirianni said. “You go through these practices, you go through the week. We’ve had a good three days of practice, looking to get our fourth one in here today. We’ve got to see what it’s like after this and how guys are feeling. They don’t particularly know exactly what we’re doing yet, so they deserve to know before anybody else.”

Sirianni couldn’t say for sure if Philadelphia and Baltimore would even play, with Tropical Depression Debby passing through the area.

“Those are things that are out of our control,” Sirianni said. “If they say we play, we play. If they say we don’t, we don’t.”

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