Lavonte David just said the quiet part out loud about Jalen Hurts. The recently retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker pulled back the curtain on how NFL defenses truly view the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, and it’s far from a glowing endorsement.
Meanwhile, David’s blunt assessment confirms what film grinders have whispered for the last two seasons. Now, former NFL defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko is pouring gasoline on the fire.
Breiden Fehoko Has Backed Lavonte David’s Comments on Jalen Hurts
David spent his entire 14-year career anchoring the Buccaneers’ defense, clashing with the Eagles frequently in high-stakes NFC matchups. He knows firsthand how defensive coordinators approach Philadelphia.
During a recent appearance on “The Arena: Gridiron,” David delivered a sobering breakdown of Tampa Bay’s strategy, stripping away the aura surrounding the Eagles.
“Jalen Hurts was never a guy we worried about,” David said. “Our game plan was always, because they have a great offensive line, you gotta stop the run. So, you gotta do what you are supposed to do to stop the run, and then that may open up the passing game, but he was never asked to do so much.”
That quote strips Hurts of the elite label often assigned to him by fans. It implies a fundamental lack of respect for his ability to process complex coverages under pressure. Former defensive tackle Fehoko amplified the sentiment on social media, making it clear that David’s evaluation is widely shared across league locker rooms.
“Aye man. It’s going to be a long offseason for Eagles fans,” he wrote on X. “The world is seeing the truth about Jalen Hurts.”
Fehoko’s reaction highlights a growing consensus among opposing players. Defenses fear the dominant Philadelphia offensive line and heavy rushing attack, but they welcome the opportunity to test Hurts from a muddy pocket. When forced to abandon the run and play traditional quarterback, the Eagles’ offense is usually not as prolific.
Hurts’ 2025 Stats Mask a Stagnant Philadelphia Offense
The 2025 regular season put those exact limitations under a microscope. Hurts finished the year with 3,224 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, and 6 interceptions across 16 games.
He also tacked on 421 yards and 8 scores on the ground, ranking 15th among the quarterbacks in the league, according to PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric with an impact score of 78.3.
Those base statistics look acceptable, but they hide a unit that frequently stalled in obvious passing situations. The team leaned heavily on run-pass options, masking his struggles in pure dropback scenarios.
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Philadelphia captured the NFC East crown, but the campaign ended with a predictable thud in a Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The offensive inconsistencies created undeniable friction throughout the facility. Wide receiver A.J. Brown looked visibly frustrated late in the year.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie remains an outspoken supporter of his quarterback, frequently pointing to his past successes. Yet, the blueprint to disrupt Philadelphia is out in the open. Hurts must evolve as a pure pocket passer to keep the Eagles relevant in a loaded NFC.
