PHILADELPHIA -- There is no path that leads to a clear, positive outcome for the Philadelphia Eagles when it comes to their quarterback situation, but now that Pandora's box has been opened, they need to start rookie Jalen Hurts on Sunday in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), and possibly beyond.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson said he made the move from Carson Wentz to Hurts in the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers because the offense needed "a spark." Really, it gave the whole team one.

Hurts got Philadelphia into the end zone for the first time with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Greg Ward midway through the fourth quarter. Just over a minute later, fellow rookie Jalen Reagor sprang to life and ripped off a 73-yard punt-return touchdown to pull the Eagles within a TD. Philadelphia's defense rose up for a pair of three-and-outs amid all of this before yielding a long touchdown run to Green Bay's Aaron Jones which, along with a Hurts interception, sealed the game for the Packers in a 30-16 win.

It was short-lived, but that energy was undeniable. Given how juice-less this team had been for 11-plus games, Pederson owes it to his players to see if that spark can be reignited against New Orleans and sustained over four quarters with Hurts at the helm.

Pederson did not name a starter following Sunday's loss at Lambeau Field, saying he needed to digest the game and evaluate the circumstances before making the call.

The whole thing is a mess. Wentz was a pro at the lectern postgame, but his frustration was plain to see. The Eagles (3-8-1) can't afford for their relationship with their 2016 first-round pick to go sour. The four-year, $128 million extension Wentz signed in 2019 makes it very difficult to move on from him anytime soon. The top priority has to be reviving Wentz's play.

Maybe a breather on the bench will do that. But what if Hurts succeeds in his stead? Then we're talking split allegiances in the locker room at best -- something Wentz clearly does not need after finally getting out of Nick Foles' shadow.

So, then Hurts failing is the best-case outcome?

The dangers of drafting Hurts No. 53 with a franchise QB already in place are playing out in front of us. When positive play from your second-round pick can be a net negative, you have put your team in quite the bind.

But what's done is done. Hurts is here and he gave a lethargic offense a jolt Sunday. It would be a disservice to his team, which hasn't won since Nov. 1, if Pederson didn't find out what a full game with Hurts at QB looks like. And if it works, he needs to do it again, and again, future headaches be damned.