Cam

Jurgens

Jurgens is the Eagles’ starting right guard and could now miss significant time with a foot injury. Jalen Hurts’ protection will take a hit, but the Eagles offensive line is strong enough to sustain the loss. Jurgens will look to recover soon, but don’t expect him to return by Week 5 against the Rams.

Isaac Seumalo signed with the Steelers in free agency, and Jurgens was a second-round pick in 2022 that the team was supposedly grooming to be Jason Kelce’s replacement at center. That could still eventually happen, but Jurgens is also the best candidate the Eagles have to start in Seumalo’s place at the moment. It looks like the second-year player will have a real role in 2023.

The Eagles selected Jurgens with the No. 51 overall pick. Jurgens will sit behind Jason Kelce as a rookie, but that may be the only season he spends on the bench. Entering his 12th season, Kelce is likely closing in on his retirement. The Wisconsin alum was hand-picked by Kelce, who helped the Eagles’ front office evaluate lineman in the offseason. Jurgens is slightly undersized but makes up for that with supreme athleticism. Studying under Kelce should help him hone his craft in preparation for the starting gig down the road.

Jurgens (6'3/290) started 31 games at center for Wisconsin. While on the smaller side for a lineman, he makes up for it with speed, quickness, and athleticism (9.68 relative athletic score) befitting a former tight end. Jurgens explodes quickly out of his stance and does very well to get to the second level -- 97th percentile 40-yard dash. Mobility is the name of the game for him, and he’s at his best when he’s able to leverage that into creating mismatches. Sometimes his speed and willingness to use it can be too much, however, causing him to overpursue and allowing savvy rushers to simply go around him. Jurgens shows hand fighting potential, which is good because he is only three years into learning the position, and his shorter height usually lets him win the leverage battle by default. That lack of size is his greatest weakness, however, as he can be bull-rushed and sometimes cannot displace bigger guys. Jurgens showed marked improvement in 2021, a fantastic sign he is not close to his peak. A zone scheme that lets him use his elite mobility will allow him to shine, much like Jason Kelce, another undersized center, has done for years.

“A versatile prospect, Jurgens has a massive build with strong hands,” Cassidy wrote. “He’s quick off the line of scrimmage and is explosive for his massive size [at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds].” The analyst hears that some are of the belief that Jurgens could have more potential as a linebacker than a tight end.

“Jurgens requested to work out as both a linebacker and a tight end in one-on-ones, but by the time the camp reached that portion he had already impressed with his offensive skills,” the analysts note. “Jurgens is an impressive route runner and he knows how to use his size to box out defenders, something he showed once one-on-ones got underway.” The 6-foot-3, 235-pound native of Beatrice, Nebraska, ranks as Rivals No. 82 overall prospect for the 2018 cycle. He has a habit of making noise on the camp circuit -- this time last year, Cassidy wrote that he “shined on offense” during a Rivals Camp Series regional in Kansas City.

There is a bit of position uncertainty when it comes to Jurgens. While the Cornhuskers plan on using the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder as a tight end -- something he confirmed at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge this past weekend -- UCLA is viewing him as a defender. Rivals believes that the defensive side of the ball is where he has the most potential, with outlet recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt writing that while he is a “decent Power Five tight end prospect, “Jurgens’ skill set makes for an extremely high ceiling (at linebacker or defensive end) even though he is less polished on that side of the ball right now.”