Mutual respect: Earlier this week, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sang the praises of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
And it wasn’t just because the way Fitzpatrick plays the game now.
It’s because of the relationship the two formed while they were both at the University of Alabama.
“Thirty-nine (Fitzpatrick) is a guy you know where he is on the field,” said Hurts. “I have a lot of respect for him, knowing him personally, knowing the type of man he is, the character he has and the work he puts in.
“I remember a lot of nights where it was Saturday night, Friday night and everybody is out and I think I am the only one going to the weight room, to the field to do extra work, but Minkah was there too.
“He plays defensive back, and he would go out there and run routes for me. That is how versatile he was. A lot of respect for Minkah. He has been making big-time plays since I have known him.”
Fitzpatrick smiled when he heard Hurts’ words, because he remembers those nights. And they were nights he enjoyed because he is a football junkie who loves helping teammates.
“I recognized Jalen as a guy who is a hard worker,” said Fitzpatrick. “He came from a hard-working family. His father was a football coach. Hard work was ingrained in him. I consider myself a hard worker. Whenever I see a guy willing to put in work to get better, to win games, I do whatever I can to help him. I challenged him to help him get better. He is a quarterback, so I ran routes. I love playing football, so any chance I got to play football, I did it.”
While getting the extra reps helped Hurts, it also benefited Fitzpatrick.
“It definitely helped me,” said Fitzpatrick. “Just catching the ball as a DB, you only get so many catches in practices. So, catching passes helped.
“I was also picking his brain, how he sees the field, and stuff like that. It gave me a little bit of insight into how the quarterback sees the field.”
Hurts has led the Eagles to a 6-0 record so far this season, with only two turnovers, and his success doesn’t surprise Fitzpatrick.
“He is a competitor. A great player,” said Fitzpatrick. “His decision making. He is reading the field and putting the ball where he needs to. He is getting the ball there quick. Not taking too many sacks or hits. He is seeing the field and making decisions quick.
“He was one of my favorite guys to play with. Going against him is going to be fun. I know he will come out there with a chip on his shoulder.”
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