The Eagles’ offense took most of the heat after Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and for good reason. Nick Sirianni, Sean Mannion and Jalen Hurts all had their share of blame in a rough outing. But beyond the quarterback and the play-calling, a few other names came out of the game with their trajectories moving in very different directions as Philadelphia heads to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
There were some encouraging signs on defense, starting with Nolan Smith. The pass rush has been underwhelming through four games, but Smith showed up against the Rams. He dropped Matthew Stafford for a third-down sack, his second of the season, and he also made his presence felt against the run early, giving Los Angeles’ offensive line trouble.
Rookie receiver Makai Lemon also flashed in a way that should matter to the Eagles. He finished with three catches for 27 yards, and all of them came on the same drive. One of those grabs went for 13 yards on fourth-and-2, the kind of moment that suggests Jalen Hurts is growing more comfortable leaning on the first-round rookie.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was another bright spot, even if the final snap he’s likely to remember went the wrong way. Late in the fourth quarter, he had a shot at Kyren Williams for a tackle for loss, but Williams slipped the backup tackler and scored the game-winning touchdown. Still, Trotter’s day was hard to ignore: filling in for Zack Baun, he played 84 snaps and piled up 15 tackles, making a strong argument for more work.
Not everyone left Sunday with momentum.
Jihaad Campbell’s development is getting harder to feel good about. When the game tightened up, the Rams kept attacking him in coverage and found plenty of success.
He was a liability too often, and that’s becoming a familiar theme. Campbell has the tools, but at 22 games into his NFL career, he’s past the point where “rookie” can explain away the struggles.
Dontayvion Wicks also had another quiet afternoon when the Eagles needed more from him with DeVonta Smith out. After managing just two catches against the Bears, he followed it up with three receptions for 18 yards against Los Angeles. That comes after he topped 70 receiving yards in each of his first two games, and now he looks more like a boom-or-bust piece than a steady answer.
Johnny Mundt was brought in to help as a run blocker, but that part of the job has not shown up yet. His holding penalty wiped out Tank Bigsby’s 19-yard run to the Rams’ 5-yard line, and Jake Elliott had to salvage the drive with a 56-yard field goal. The Eagles should have had six points there.
Then there’s Jordan Davis, whose new deal is already under the microscope. Philadelphia gave him a three-year extension worth $78 million this offseason, and through four games the production has been thin: eight tackles, zero sacks and zero passes batted down.
On Sunday, he was on the field for only 29 of 84 snaps. That’s not the kind of return the Eagles were looking for.
In Other News...
Eagles Backfield Trouble Just Forced A Telling Move Before London
With Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby both dealing with injuries, the Eagles had little choice but to add another body to the backfield before heading to London. The team is elevating Dameon Pierce to the 53-man roster, a practical move that speaks to how thin the running back room has become as Philadelphia tries to stay on schedule heading into an overseas game.
Pierce brings a familiar profile as a former Texans runner who has flashed enough to be viewed as a useful depth option. For the Eagles, the question now is less about upside than availability, because the next stretch will test how much of the offense can be carried without two of its expected contributors in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Rainy Loss Sparked A Viral Moment Fans Didn't See
Rainy Sundays in Philadelphia can make even a routine sideline assignment feel like a test of endurance, and Erin Andrews gave fans a glimpse of just how messy it got during the Eagles-Rams game. The longtime broadcaster posted behind-the-scenes photos and video on Instagram showing her preparing to work through the wet conditions, offering a look at the kind of cleanup and constant adjustment that comes with covering an NFL game in a downpour.
The weather added another layer to a game that already turned sharply against Philadelphia, as the Rams rallied for a 24-20 win. Kyren Williams helped fuel the comeback, while Andrews post ended up becoming one of those viral reminders that the broadcast booth and sideline have their own battle when the rain starts falling. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles May Need O-Line Help More Than The Trade Market Can Offer
The offensive line market has become one of the leagues quiet pressure points, and Philadelphia is right in the middle of it. With injuries and retirements thinning out depth across the NFL, the Eagles join teams like the Packers, Patriots and Ravens as clubs that could be looking for help, even if the trade buzz around that need has not really started to build yet.
ESPNs Dan Graziano pointed to that group as possible participants if the market ever opens up, but the problem is obvious: good linemen are hard to find and even harder to pry loose. For the Eagles, the bigger issue may be whether the help they need is even available in a market where demand is already outpacing supply. [Read more 🡒]