Week 14 presents a big opportunity for Jalyx Hunt.
The Eagles head into their Week 14 showdown against the Panthers with a 10-2 record and riding high after a big win. While the lowly Panthers are 3-9 on the year, they’ve proven feistier over the last few weeks than their record would indicate. David Canales’ squad won’t just roll over, so the Eagles still need to bring their A-game. For the rookies, one player in particular stands out as being very important in this game: Jalyx Hunt.
It would be easy to write a few more sentences about the Eagles rookie cornerbacks, but I expect Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell each to play very well against the Panthers receivers. So, the focus shifts to the Eagles’ first-year pass rusher.
Hunt has been thrust into a bigger role over the last few weeks. After barely seeing the field through the first two months of the season, injuries to Bryce Huff and Brandon Graham meant Hunt had to play meaningful snaps. After seeing a total of 17 defensive snaps by week eight, Hunt has played 84 snaps over the last three games.
Each of those three games, he has one or two plays where you really see the potential flash: the get-off, the bend, the speed to power. Just a small glimpse into the player he can be and the team is really hoping he can turn into sooner than later. After all, the loss of Graham and absence of Huff does put the Eagles in a tougher position on the edges. Josh Sweat is having a very good season and Nolan Smith is emerging in his second year, but the depth beyond those two is thin. For the Eagles to have a real chance in the postseason, a potent pass rush off the edges will be crucial. And so the team is likely hoping Hunt can start stringing together these good plays within games instead of just getting a good play a week.
The Panthers game might be a real chance for the 23-year-old to break out. The Panthers offensive line is actually pretty damn good, with the team ranking fifth in the league in sacks allowed. However, Carolina’s taller offensive tackles might be exactly the kind of players that Hunt can take advantage of. If he wins a snap, it’s usually won with pad level and speed.
Carolina’s passing game is starting to look like the real thing the last few weeks and if they’re able to challenge the Eagles it will be due to Bryce Young and company moving the ball well. Hunt needs to start showing he can be a reliable pass rusher and breaking out in this game could help the Eagles notch their 11th win.
