Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Jalen Hurts

Thursday, August 21, 6:05 PM

Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton (elbow) is being held out of the team's preseason finale on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt. Starter Bryce Young will also be held out, leaving QB duties on Thursday to Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins, who was just signed on Monday. The 37-year-old Dalton suffered a muscle strain in his right elbow in the team's second preseason tilt last Saturday against the Houston Texans. While the injury isn't considered overly serious, Dalton is strictly focused on being available for the club's Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Red Rifle is purely a backup at this point in his career. In six games (five starts) played last year in Carolina when Young was benched, he threw for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

Tuesday, September 16, 2:18 PM

In speaking to reporters on Monday, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo touched upon the lack of designed runs by quarterback Jalen Hurts through two weeks. A staple of the Eagles' offense over the past few seasons, Patullo pointed to the way teams have defended them as a primary reason Hurts has yet to be unleashed, but was quick to point out that designed quarterback runs and zone read keeps would be coming. Through two games, 74 of Hurts' 77 yards on the ground have come on scrambles, with the tush push accounting for the remainder. For context, nearly 300 of his 630 rushing yards last season came on designed runs. With the Eagles' defense dominating through two weeks, the fear is that Philadelphia will continue to grind out wins by doing only what's needed offensively, but Patullo's assurance that there is another gear still to be reached should comfort fantasy managers waiting for the week-winning performances they're used to from Hurts and the rest of the Eagles' offense.