Replacing a franchise great is the hardest thing in sports. For the Philadelphia Eagles, that challenge now falls to Cam Jurgens, who faces the monumental task of stepping into the shoes of Jason Kelce. Jurgens, in his two NFL seasons, has played just 43 snaps at center and has yet to start a game in that position for the Eagles.
Despite the limited time at center, Jurgens' flexibility and dedication have been evident. Over the last two years, he has interchanged positions on the offensive line, learning the intricacies of center under the watchful eye of Kelce during his rookie season. Last year, Jurgens earned the starting right guard spot and showcased his abilities by not allowing a single sack in 631 pass-blocking snaps. He allowed only 18 pressures and achieved a pressure rate allowed per dropback of just 4.9%.
Now, Jurgens is back to his natural position at center, but the comparisons to his predecessor will be inevitable. As Landon Dickerson, an Eagles teammate, pointed out, “He's gonna hear it from you guys all the time. That's gonna happen. No offense, you guys got used to that and that's gonna be your comparison. And so, he's handling that extremely well. It's not trying to replace Kelce. Cam's gonna make his own legacy, his own path, his own destiny. He's gonna be Cam Jurgens. His name is not Jason Kelce. He's not gonna try to be 62. He's gonna do what Cam Jurgens does.”
The transition back to center involves not just technical adjustments but also developing clear communication with teammates—a vital aspect of the role. Dickerson emphasized Jurgens' adaptability and leadership, stating, “Cam's creating his own path right now. Really smart guy, physical guy, strong guy. Moves well. He's handling this transition from going from guard and a little bit of center last year to playing center right now. Communication has been good.”
During the offseason, the team has seen various personnel changes, requiring Jurgens to step up his game. “You never know what happens when guys get hurt right? You're rotating guys in. Mekhi's [Becton] coming in. We got guys stepping in at different tackle (spots). Changing up the group. Just the way he's been able to handle the communication and different guys get out there, you never know what's gonna happen. I think he's done a tremendous job so far of just (providing) clear communication to everybody and setting the standard of how things are supposed to be done in the huddle before we get them the ball. He's handling it great,” Dickerson added.
As the Eagles look forward to the upcoming season, much attention will be on how Jurgens fares at center. His predecessors' legacy looms large, but Jurgens is poised to create his own. His journey from a versatile offensive lineman to the critical center position will be a storyline to watch closely, offering a promising yet challenging chapter in his young NFL career.
