The Eagles walked into Sunday with the kind of injury mess that can sink a team before kickoff, and then the game got even uglier from there. Philadelphia was already missing DeVonta Smith, Zack Baun and Lane Johnson, then lost Saquon Barkley, Quinyon Mitchell and Jonathan Greenard during the game.
Even with all that, the Eagles still carried a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. And then they let it slip away, falling 24-20 to the Rams in one of those losses that stings twice as hard because it was right there.
That collapse made the offense the obvious place to start. Sean Mannion’s unit had another second-half disappearance, and this one was especially painful because the Eagles had a chance to put the game away on a fourth-and-goal from the Rams’ 2-yard line and came up empty. Philadelphia didn’t score at all in the third or fourth quarters.
The third-down work was just as rough. The Eagles went 0-for-12, a number that doesn’t need much dressing up. It was a nightmarish stretch for a group that never found a rhythm when it mattered most.
Jalen Hurts was left to navigate all of it without Smith, Barkley and Johnson, while dealing with pressure all afternoon. He finished 12 of 27 for 93 yards, and his first touchdown throw to Darius Cooper needed Cooper’s acrobatics to avoid being picked off. It was the kind of performance Hurts will want to flush fast.
Cam Jurgens also had a tough one. The move from center to left guard has been a difficult adjustment, and through four games he’s been a negative on the Eagles’ offensive line, especially in pass protection.
On defense, Jihaad Campbell got targeted late by Matthew Stafford and the Rams, and Los Angeles made it work. Campbell had a rough time keeping up in coverage, and that has become a recurring issue for the 2025 first-round pick.
Jonathan Jones had a veteran lapse that turned costly. Filling in for the injured Mitchell, he was flagged for a late hit on Kyren Williams in the fourth quarter, handing the Rams 15 free yards on a nine-play, 98-yard touchdown drive that cut the Eagles’ lead to 20-17. That’s the sort of mistake a seasoned player can’t afford.
Still, there were a few bright spots tucked inside the mess.
Darius Cooper kept doing what he’s been doing: finding the end zone. The second-year undrafted receiver now has four catches this season, and three of them have gone for touchdowns. He added two more against the Rams, including one of the wildest grabs you’ll see.
Britain Covey continued to look like one of the most dependable players on the roster. His 41-yard punt return stood out as one of the cleanest plays of the afternoon.
Jake Elliott has clearly steadied himself after a bad 2025 season. He hit two field goals against Los Angeles, including a 56-yarder, two weeks after drilling a 58-yarder against the Titans in Nashville.
Cooper DeJean shook off an uneven start to the season and was all over the field. His interception required serious concentration, and it set up a touchdown right before halftime.
Drew Mukuba finally ended the Eagles’ strange defensive takeaway drought with a first-quarter interception. Philadelphia had gone through its first three games without a defensive takeaway, so after a rough outing against the Bears, that was a needed response.
And then there was Markel Bell. With Johnson ruled out shortly before kickoff for personal reasons, Bell had to make his first NFL start with very little time to get ready.
There were mistakes, sure, but the third-round rookie held up well enough overall, especially in the run game. That’s a useful starting point for him.
In Other News...
Lane Johnson Update Leaves Eagles Fans With A Bigger Concern
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Johnsons status also comes with a larger long-term backdrop after he announced plans to retire following the 2026 NFL season. He already dealt with a Lisfranc injury that cost him part of last season, so even a short-term update like this tends to invite bigger questions about what comes next for an aging cornerstone in the middle of another demanding year. [Read more 🡒]
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McKee, a sixth-round pick in 2023, has already shown enough in limited action to stay in the conversation. He has started two career games and owns a 99.5 passer rating, which gives Philadelphia a different look at a spot that suddenly feels worth watching a lot more closely. [Read more 🡒]
Saquon Barkleys Latest Injury Leaves Eagles Facing A Bigger Concern
Saquon Barkleys latest setback arrived during the game against the Los Angeles Rams, when a hamstring injury forced the Eagles to take him out for the rest of the afternoon. Philadelphia had already been managing his workload after he missed most of Week 2 with a stinger, and the timing only adds to the concern around a backfield that was built to lean on him early and often.
Tank Bigsby stepped in after Barkley exited, with Will Shipley also picking up snaps as the Eagles tried to piece together the running game on the fly. Barkley has still produced 174 rushing yards through the first four weeks, but the bigger worry now is whether this is becoming a pattern rather than a one-off, and how long Philadelphia can keep its ground game on track if he keeps getting dinged up. [Read more 🡒]