Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni endorses Jalen Hurts after playoff loss, confident quarterback 'grew throughout the year'

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In the loss to the Buccaneers, the Eagles' mistakes proved costly.

The Eagles have a dropped pass, turnover on downs, two picks and a punt as they fall to the Buccaneers in the wild card round. (1:32)

7:30 PM

The Philadelphia Eagles coach gave quarterback Jalen Hurts a strong endorsement after the team's 31-15 playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He didn't play his best game. "You don't take the body of work that he had, 15 weeks, and put everything on this game." I understand that we're judged on the last game that we played, but I felt like he grew throughout the year. He got better as a passer, he got better reading the defense, and he got the ball to the right place. He was able to extend plays with his feet and also make plays on the scramble.

I feel good about what we have at the quarterback position. I thought he had a great year and he came a long way, and that's what I expect of him because of the character he has and the love for football he has. I can't say enough about the person and the player.

In his first year as a starter, Hurts completed 61.3% of his passes for 3,144 yards with 16 touchdown to nine interception, and led all quarterbacks with

He had an ankle injury that hampered him down the stretch. He wore a walking boot on his foot. "I hope not," Hurts said when asked if he would need surgery.

The team said Hurts wore a boot after the game because his ankle was sore.

The Eagles have three first-round picks. The franchise has to decide whether to use the capital to acquire a new signal-caller by packaging the picks in a trade for an established veteran, or to ride with Hurts and use those picks to bolster the talent around him.

As Hurts spoke after the game, he already had an idea of what to expect in the next season.

This game does not define us or who we are. We know all of the things that have been overcome, we know the environment that we've built as a football team and an organization. He said that the football team would be back. This is a feeling that will be in our hearts for a long time. We're definitely coming back hungry with the youth on this football team.