Jalen Hurts or Carson Wentz as Eagles' quarterback in 2021? Hurts gets one more chance to make an impression

We don't know exactly what Carson Wentz has learned watching rookie Jalen Hurts start these last four games of the season.

Nor do we know how much sitting out will help Wentz going into the spring, when the expectation is that he'll have to compete for the starting job with Hurts. That's because Wentz hasn't talked to the media since his benching on Dec. 6. 

"I can tell you what I see," Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward said. "(Wentz) is engaged. He’s helping, he’s laughing, he’s smiling. He’s working extremely hard, and he’s preparing. That shows the leadership, and it shows you what type of person he is."

We also know that through three starts, Hurts hasn't provided a clear-cut answer as to whether he'll be the Eagles' starting quarterback in 2021. He'll get his fourth start on Sunday night when the Eagles close out their season against the Washington Football Team.

After all, Hurts has had his share of good moments and bad ones.

Both were evident in Hurts' most recent start, last Sunday against Dallas, when Hurts threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and took five sacks. Those were the kind of statistics that got Wentz benched.

"Anything that goes wrong offensively, I take ownership for it," Hurts said. 

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Eagles coach Doug Pederson provided a critique, too, saying that Hurts wasn't loud enough calling signals before the snap. Pederson said that might have led to six false-start penalties. And he also said Hurts was too quick on occasions to leave the pocket and try to make something happen with his legs.

Those types of mistakes, Pederson said, are easy enough to correct.

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"Young players sometimes do that, and this is where we can coach him up and show him exactly where his eyes need to be," Pederson said. "For instance, how he can time the drop up with the route combination or what he's seeing defensively. Then just trust the protection overall whether it's a pressure look or not."

But Hurts also threw for 342 yards against the Cowboys, his second straight game with more than 300 yards passing. Wentz has only surpassed 300 yards once in 12 games.

Hurts is also the only NFL quarterback since 1950 to have at least two games of at least 300 yards passing and 50 yards rushing in his first four games.

Hurts and Robert Griffin III, back in 2012 with Washington, are the only quarterbacks to have at least 800 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in their first three starts.

Hurts' mobility impressed the current Washington coach, Ron Rivera, who compared the 22-year-old rookie to Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.

"Just watching the way he plays, there are some things that he does that really do remind me of Russell Wilson," Rivera said. "I mean, he’s very active. He’s shifty in the pocket, has got good sense, good movement skills about him."

Rivera, of course, prepared for Wentz in the season opener back on Sept 13. Hurts wasn't even on the game-day roster as Nate Sudfeld was Wentz's backup.

In that game, Wentz started fast. He threw two touchdown passes through the midway point of the second quarter as the Eagles built a 17-0 lead.

But Wentz threw an interception with 1:37 left in the first half that Washington converted into a touchdown. The Eagles never scored again in their 27-17 loss.

Wentz ended up throwing two interceptions, lost a fumble, and was sacked eight times. Those sort of games continued for Wentz as the season continued and the losses mounted.

By the time Wentz was benched, in the second half against Green Bay on Dec. 6, he led the NFL in interceptions with 15 (he still does), and in times getting sacked with 50 (he still does).

If all of that surprised Rivera, who is now preparing for Hurts, he wouldn't say. Washington (6-9) can clinch the NFC East division title with a win over the Eagles (4-10-1). If Hurts were to lead the Eagles to a victory, then the winner of the Sunday afternoon game between the Giants and Cowboys would win the division.

"I don’t want to talk about decisions that are made by another head coach," Rivera said. "We all do what we believe is best for our football team. I believe that’s what they’re doing ... and they’ll re-evaluate as they go forward."

That re-evaluation will begin as soon as next week. For now, the Eagles are playing for pride, and for jobs next season, after being eliminated from playoff contention in the loss to the Cowboys.

But Hurts wasn't about to make some kind of bold statement about convincing the coaches that he should be the starter next season.

"I can tell you that I'm about winning," Hurts said. "I play this game to win, and that's that. We’ve got another opportunity this week to do that. My head's down, our heads are down, and we’re trying to get that done.

"We just want to end it on a high note. That’s where my head is. End it off the right way. Have some pride, go out there and play this game, have some passion, and let it hang."

Then Hurts and Wentz will do that all over again in the spring when the real competition is expected to begin – against each other.

Jalen Mills goes on COVID-19 list

The Eagles placed safety Jalen Mills on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That doesn't necessarily mean that Mills has the coronavirus, but he was at least exposed to someone who tested positive.

That means Mills' season is over a few days early. It also leaves the Eagles without three of their four starters in the secondary as fellow safety Rodney McLeod and cornerback Avonte Maddox are on injured reserve with knee injuries.

Darius Slay is the only starter available for Sunday. It's likely that Michael Jacquet will start again at the other cornerback spot, with Marcus Epps and rookie K'Von Wallace at safety.

Mills, in his first season at safety after playing the previous four at cornerback, was tied for the team lead in tackles with 105. He also has 1.5 sacks and an interception.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.