Tide Test: Patriots' Mac Jones, Eagles' Jalen Hurts Battle For 'Bama QB Bragging Rights

Former Alabama quarterbacks Mac Jones and Jalen Hurts will play against each other for the first time this Sunday when the New England Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles.

There are storylines galore in the New England Patriots' season opener this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles inside Gillette Stadium, be it the excitement and unknown of a new year or the return of Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator.

But not to be lost in the headlines is the relationship between the two starting quarterbacks, with the Patriots' Mac Jones and Eagles' Jalen Hurts carrying a friendship that dates back to their time at the University of Alabama.

Jones and Hurts spent 2017 and 2018 together at Alabama, the former serving as a backup before rising to stardom a few years later while the latter started in Year 1 and was replaced by now-Miami Dolphins signal caller Tua Tagovailoa the season after.

This week will mark the first time Jones has played against Hurts and the first time they'll be on the same field since the latter transferred to Oklahoma in 2019 ... and Jones was highly complimentary of his former teammate in the lead-up to Sunday's matchup.

"Obviously a great player," Jones said. "I've been fortunate to play with him and I learned a lot from him. Definitely a great quarterback, and I just think back on the times we had. I'm just really proud of him and everything he's done in the NFL."

What Hurts has done, of course, is become one of the best players in the league, per Patriots coach Bill Belichick. He's fresh off a breakout third season in which he earned his first Pro Bowl nod and finished runner-up in MVP voting.

This offseason, the Eagles gave Hurts a five-year, $255 million contract that temporarily made him the highest-paid player in league history.

For as impressive as he is on the field, Hurts often draws the most praise for his work behind the scenes, be it his training or preparation. Jones saw this firsthand, citing Hurts' conditioning as the first thing he learned from him.

The two often ran together, with Hurts and his 4.59 40-yard dash time winning the races but Jones claiming that he was competitive.

Beyond that, Jones made sure to take note of how Hurts carried himself around the locker room, implementing the leadership traits he witnessed into his own personal approach.

"He always did such a good job running, leading, never showed a lot of emotion, just did his thing and I actually learned a lot from him there," Jones said. "Then, obviously on the field there is a bunch of stuff, too.

"So, I really appreciate him."

Jones saw Hurts at his lowest point, being benched on the biggest stage - the National Championship - in favor of Tagovailoa ... but he also saw the reigning All-Pro at a considerable high, replacing Tagovailoa in the SEC title game the following season and leading the Crimson Tide to victory.

Given a chance to leave before the season, Hurts stayed - he felt he owed it to his teammates and himself to remain in the fold and get his degree, and it paid off with redemption before starring at Oklahoma and being drafted in the second round.

Hurts' story was one of perseverance and humility, and Jones made sure to take note of it.

"I think there is a lot of learning lessons," Jones said. "I definitely took a lot of that, loved to see him bounce back and do a great job. In college he went through a lot, transferred and played well everywhere he's been. It's just who he is, it's Jalen Hurts."

Who is Hurts? Simple.

"He's just a great player, great person and a good friend," Jones said.

The two ex-teammates will square off at 1 p.m. Sunday, seeking to start the season on a high note ... and getting a little bit of friendly bragging rights along the way.