Jalen Hurts poses dual-threat problem for Broncos defense
Posted October 5, 2025
Saquon Barkley is a problem enough for the Denver Broncos defense.
But when you throw in Jalen Hurts as a dual-threat quarterback, that makes the Philadelphia Eagles offense that much tougher to defend. Hurts is capable of beating defenses with his arm or his legs. Yes, the Eagles are experiencing some drama with their receivers at the moment, and A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have been underutilized in a bizarre way. But it’s all just a matter of one game.
All that matters is that Philadelphia wins games. The Eagles are now 20-1 in their last 21 games and 18-0 in their last 18 games started and finished by Hurts.
Now the Broncos will need to find a way to contain Hurts and that dual-threat ability today.
“How we rush this guy is obviously key,” Broncos defense coordinator Vance Joseph said to the media this week. “If everyone’s covered and you have irresponsible rush lanes, (Hurts) will take off and gain the first down, and you’ll never see third-and-long or second-and-long ever. If you don’t contain the quarterback, I think he’s an accurate passer, but when he pulls the ball down, if everyone’s back is turned, he can make a big play on it.
“How we rush him is important. How we stop Saquon is important. They have a lot of weapons that we have to account for, but the quarterback is obviously the main guy. That’s where it starts.”
One of the best ways for the Broncos to slow down Hurts and the Eagles’ offense is to control the ball and time of possession. That starts with a consistent and effective running game.
If J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey get going, that spells success for Denver. It starts by achieving success in the running game early.
“I think that’s just a constant in football,” Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said to the media this week. “When you’re able to run the ball efficiently, it helps everything. I know when you’re calling plays and the run game’s effective, it feels a lot easier than when it’s not. I think both of our runners are averaging over five (yards) a carry, and it’s something that we have confidence in and we’ll lean on going forward for sure.”
Lombardi added that splitting series is how the Broncos envisioned using Dobbins and Harvey based on their differing skill sets as runners.
“They’re really good runners, they’re both effective as pass catchers, both effective as blockers,“ Lombardi said. ”I think getting RJ, making sure that we’re confident that he has the protections down, not physically, but just mentally. He came along quickly with that. I think it’s something we feel good about going forward.”
How successful Denver is in running the ball today will go a long way in helping the defense at least slow down Hurts and the high-flying capability of the Eagles offense.
But as Hurts and Philly have shown, they don’t need much to be dangerous.
Celtics’ Xavier Tillman Stunned by What He Saw Jayson Tatum Doing in Rehab
It’s been five months since
Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon. At the time, the Boston Celtics superstar was expected to be sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 NBA season. However, the St. Louis native appears to be ahead of schedule.
According to Xavier Tillman Sr., who spoke with Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston, Tatum is already incorporating box jumps into his rehab program. That likely means that his Achilles tendon is strong enough to bear his weight with light impact. That is a significant step forward.
“I mean, I’m seeing this guy do like box jumps and stuff like that, and I’m like, huh? What?” Tillman said.
There’s growing hope that Tatum will be medically cleared before the end of the coming season. However, that is unlikely to happen anytime in the near future. Nevertheless, with each passing week, we’re getting new and encouraging updates regarding his road to recovery and the work he’s putting in.
Tatum played in 72 regular-season games during the 2024-25 campaign. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and six assists, shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.3% from deep.
Tatum Has a Goal For Celtics’ Return
During the September 23 episode of TODAY With Jenna and Friends, Tatum discussed his rehab process and his goal of getting back on the court. He did, however, stop short of setting a date or guaranteeing that he will be back in the upcoming campaign.
“For me and my team, the doctor, the organization, the most important thing is making the full recovery,” Tatum said. “I haven’t said like, ‘Yo, I’m not playing this season or anything like that.’…
I have a goal in my mind,” Tatum added. “What I will say is I’m not working out, rehabbing six days a week for no reason.”
Tatum isn’t the only
NBA star currently sidelined with an Achilles injury. Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard and Dejounte Murray are all working through similar rehab programs.
Tatum Doubled Down on First Take
Shortly after his appearance on “TODAY,” Tatum was back on television, this time with
ESPN’s First Take. He once again discussed his aim of being back on the court, but also explained the standard at which he needs to reach before putting a
“I haven’t said I’m not playing this season,” Tatum said. “…I don’t go to rehab six days a week for nothing. But with that being said, with being a part of the organization and the
Whenever Tatum does return to the court, he will need multiple months to get back into game shape. After all, being medically cleared and being at NBA-level fitness are two different things. However, you can only achieve that fitness level by playing competitive games on he floor.
Therefore, if Tatum is medically cleared, feels good, and the coaching staff trusts he can sustain the added workload, his return will be a welcome boost to Boston’s rotation in the latter part of the season.
