Why Cam Jurgens feels at home even replacing a legend originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
It’s strange not having Jason Kelce at Eagles training camp.
Although Kelce worked hard this offseason after his retirement, when the Eagles took the field this week to start camp, there were no 62.
And that’s going to take some getting used to.
But after a few years of waiting his turn, Cam Jurgens is finally taking over as a legend. And he’s feeling at home at center, his most natural position.
“I feel a lot more comfortable being back there,” Jurgens said Thursday. “The good thing about being at guard last year is that I wasn’t going out there and just worrying about my blocking assignment. I was still thinking like it was a center and what protections and what calls we would make and still going through my normal routine because it was so ingrained in me. That’s all I did.
“That aspect hasn’t changed that much. It’s a little like riding a bike, except we’re blocking 300-pound guys.”
Jurgens, 25, surprised offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland a bit last year when he showed off his ability to play right guard. After what was essentially a redshirt rookie season in 2022, Kelce decided to return for his 13th season and the Eagles had to replace Isaac Seumalo, who left in free agency. So they tried Jurgens at that position last year and he played really well. But really, this was like a bonus.
Because Jurgens has always been a center. It’s the position Jurgens played at Nebraska, it’s the position he played in his rookie training camp and it’s the position the Eagles drafted him to play when they picked him in the second round in 2022.
Now he’s finally back where he belongs. And he’s enjoying it.
“It’s a lot of practice, it’s a lot of communication,” Jurgens said, explaining why he likes the role. “I just like it because I love talking and getting everyone on the same page and communicating. Where in the guard it’s a little less and it’s a little more physical. You have a little more physical challenge during the game than in the center.
Even though he played guard last season, Jurgens said he didn’t need to change weight. He was a little undersized at guard last season, but feels he has the right size to play center.
A big part of the center’s job is directing traffic in advance. In recent seasons, many checks and protective calls at the line of scrimmage have fallen on Kelce because of her experience. Since Kelce’s retirement, quarterback Jalen Hurts has said he also wants to take a more active role in that area this season.
It will be a collaborative effort between Hurts and Jurgens and others.
“I think we work on it every day,” Jurgens said. “It’s fun to meet with him and see what he’s seeing and what I’m seeing and how we want to come together and who wants to control what and how we can do this together.
“This is a team, it’s a process and I don’t think anyone will have full control of anything. I think that’s how we want to work. Everyone will have a say and that’s great. It’s fun to learn this offense and start learning.”
Although Jurgens didn’t play much in 2022, he actually was the Eagles’ first-team center for most of that summer. In training camp that year, Kelce needed an elbow scope, which resulted in valuable reps for Jurgens.
That experience is paying off now.
“I played center in college and I played center when I got here and now I’m back at center,” Jurgens said. “It helps to be able to feel the game a little and be able to play in pre-season games and get along with the team. Jalen was the quarterback back then when I played center all camp and now I get to go through another camp with him. And then that communication kind of picks up and evolves throughout the camp. I think that helps a lot.”
Although Jurgens looked very good during his rookie training camp, Kelce was back for the season opener and played 98% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps in the Super Bowl season. But it was still a valuable experience, much like Jurgens’ time as a guard last year.
And this experience is showing up on the field.
How much better is Jurgens now?
“I feel like he’s a lot more polished now,” Lane Johnson said. “He spent a year in the guard. I thought he played very well. Returning to the center, he is very strong. Kelce did a great job exploring it, I think he helped. When it comes to his movement and athleticism, he has everything you want. Now it’s just a matter of getting representatives, building continuity and defining the playbook.”
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