Jets HC Robert Saleh calls late hit on Eagles QB Jalen Hurts ‘egregiously awful’

New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams put a dirty late hit on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in NFL preseason action on Friday night.

Hurts was clearly out of bounds before Williams delivered a hard hit early in the first quarter.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was quite unhappy about the cheap shot on his starting quarterback.

Dirty hit on Jalen.
He was out of bounds pic.twitter.com/QbAdGunte0

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) August 12, 2022

Here is the late hit on Jalen Hurts that caused Nick Sirianni to lose his mind. You don’t need to be a professional lip reader to decode this one. Coach was HOT!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/yShuzfSEIv

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 13, 2022

It turns out that the Jets‘ head coach was displeased with the hit too.

Robert Saleh told the media in his postgame press conference that the Williams late hit on Hurts was “egregiously awful.”

#Jets HC Robert Saleh called out LB Quincy Williams after the game for his ‘egregiously awful’ late hit on #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts + ‘those are the plays that Quincy has to get out of his game if he wants to be the linebacker that we all think he can be’: 🎥 @nyjets #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/nuROEDgN4n

— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) August 13, 2022

When an NFL head coach says that about a play from one of their own players, you know it’s really bad.

There’s just no place in the game for that, and *especially* in exhibition games. Teams are already concerned enough about playing starting quarterbacks in preseason games due to injury risk (Jets quarterback Zach Wilson suffered a knee injury in this same game, for example).

Thankfully, Hurts was able to keep playing- and flawlessly. Hurts completed 6-of-6 passes for 80 yards, one touchdown, and a 158.3 passer rating.

Jalen Hurts absolutely perfect on first drive.

6/6, 80 yards, pass TD (also rush TD called back).

Decisive, accurate, in command 🔥#Eaglespic.twitter.com/59p6jL90d0

— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) August 12, 2022

Williams, 25, was a third-round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was claimed off waivers by the Jets in 2021 and went on to play in all 16 games (starting 13) for New York.

The Jets won Friday night’s game 24-21.

[Photo Credit: NBC 10-WCAU in Philadelphia]