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A.J. Brown is long gone, but Jalen Hurts can see Makai Lemon stepping in and having an impact on the Philadelphia Eagles.
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The Eagles quarterback spoke glowingly about the rookie wideout’s “heart and hunger” after the team’s first practice Wednesday.
Eagles football czar Howie Roseman traded up in April to select Lemon, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner from USC, with the 20th overall pick. Lemon had 137 catches for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns over three years for the Trojans.
Makai Lemon’s Superpowers are ‘Heart and Hunger,’ per Jalen Hurts
Much has been made about Lemon’s potential fit in Sean Mannion’s new offense. Unlike Brown, Lemon is more of a slot receiver who works best in open space while producing yards after the catch.
But Hurts isn’t worried about the wideout’s NFL credential thanks to Lemon’s motor and drive, which the quarterback thinks can positively affect the veteran-laden Eagles.
“If you’re on this roster, you have a passion for the game,” Hurts said. “The No. 1 thing I see with Makai is his heart, and I see his hunger.”
Hurts mentioned the six-year age gap and how his becoming the Eagles’ elder statesman is a new experience. But he also explained why he and teammates like Lemon are anxious to take ownership of the Eagles’ new offense.
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“We’re both young and doing what we’re doing and we’re both learning something new and onboarding something new,” Hurts said. “We want to say we own it, and this thing is ours and we’re growing that together.”
Jalen Hurts Is Committed to Helping Sean Mannion
The only consistent offense for Hurts has been the changing one, but he seems willing to assist Mannion in the transition to OC.
“I think I’m at a point where I have to help,” Hurts said. “I have to hold up my end of it as well, because I’ve experienced [change] so much. It’s all I’ve experienced.”
There is legitimate angst from Eagles fans about Mannion’s offense, on the heels of Kevin Patullo’s failed offensive experiment. The 2026 season is crucial for the Eagles, especially since they took a step back in 2025 after winning Super Bowl LIX while running Kellen Moore’s offense throughout the 2024 season.
But Hurts isn’t worried about Mannion.
“I think coach is going to be just fine,” Hurts said. “He’s got a lot of structure and a lot of intentionality behind what he does.”
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This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 5:40 AM.