Feb. 21, 2026, 2:04 p.m. ET

Rumors tend to take on a life of their own, especially when they involve a franchise quarterback and a team with championship expectations. Over the past several months, whispers have circulated about supposed tension inside the Philadelphia Eagles locker room.

Some of it stems from underperformance. Some speculated on leadership’s hesitancy to challenge Jalen Hurts or criticize him. Then came conversations about a fractured relationship with longtime friend A.J. Brown, his perceived stubbornness regarding his on-field approach, and how he wants to play the quarterback position.

Here’s the thing, though. Coaches and teammates aren’t expressing any issues. Jahan Dotson’s time in Philadelphia may be running out, but if this is it, he’s leaving the City of Brotherly Love with more respect than he had for his QB1 coming in. He also didn’t hesitate to praise him when offered an opportunity.

Jahan Dotson compliments Jalen Hurts on growing as a leader.

It would seem that Dotson would have little incentive to sugarcoat the truth. Remember, though he hasn’t the reputation of a problem starter, he was honest enough to say he felt “betrayed” and shocked after being traded to the Eagles from the Washington Commanders.

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He remained professional, stating that he understood the business of football and wouldn’t make his situation personal, until he was given his shot to play his former team.

That said, we expect an honest answer from the former Penn State Nittany Lion. How does he feel about Jalen Hurts? Here’s that answer straight from the source.

Dotson is entering free agency after Philadelphia declined his fifth-year option last offseason. Rather than echoing the criticism of his QB1 of the moment. He praised the Hurts’ development, and seeing as this is someone who played with him and shared the locker room, this opinion certainly carries weight.

Dotson isn’t a long-tenured Eagle with deep contractual ties to the organization. In fact, his uncertain future in Philadelphia makes him one of the more neutral voices in the room. If there were significant locker-room fractures, he would have little reason to go out of his way to defend Hurts, but even had he done so anyway, he’s so authentic that it seems we probably would have been able to pick up on something.

Dotson highlights Hurts’ progress, something we have all witnessed firsthand. This aligns with what coaches and several teammates have said consistently: Hurts is demanding, detail-oriented, and highly driven. Those are traits that can sometimes be misinterpreted from the outside but are often respected internally.

None of this means Hurts is a perfect leader. No leader or franchise quarterback is. The position comes with scrutiny, and leadership styles vary depending on personality.

What matters most is whether teammates believe in the person delivering the message, and comments like Dotson’s suggest that belief remains intact. As the Eagles move into another pivotal season, Hurts’ leadership will continue to be analyzed. Inside the building, however, the picture may be far less dramatic than the rumors suggest, and far more rooted in mutual respect than outside speculation would lead you to believe.