Eagles Run Game Concern Now Falls On The Entire Offense

Despite early-season struggles, Eagles' head coach Nick Sirianni remains optimistic about the team's run game improvement with key adjustments and collaborative efforts.

Nick Sirianni isn’t sounding the alarm on the Eagles’ run game just yet.

After Philadelphia’s win in Tennessee, the head coach said Monday that the ground attack has been the main area of concern through two games to start the 2026 season, but he believes the unit is close to breaking through. Sirianni kept coming back to the same idea: this isn’t on one player or one position group. It’s everybody.

That started with Cam Jurgens, who made the switch to left guard. Sirianni pointed out the sacrifice Jurgens made by being willing to move, especially after spending most of the offseason and training camp at center. He also noted that the Eagles can work in some cross-training during walkthroughs, and that Jurgens has played right guard before.

“But, [Cam Jurgens] sure got a lot of reps this week at [left guard] and thought he came out against a really good defensive front and played a solid game.”

The bigger issue, though, has been the Eagles’ overall lack of consistency on the ground. Sirianni framed it as a collective problem that stretches from coaches to players, not just something to pin on the running backs or the offensive line. In his view, everyone on the field has a role in making the run game work, and he said the group is capable of being better.

“And we’re close. We are close.

But it goes back to when you’re close, it’s never just one thing. It’s the entire group working as a whole.

We have to be committed to it still and keep grinding away at it, but we know we have room to improve there in our run game.”

He also addressed the Eagles’ negative plays through the first two games, saying they’ve come from more than just the run game. Sirianni pointed to penalties and sacks as part of the problem, too, stressing how difficult it is to move the ball when drives keep getting pushed backward.

“Negative plays, you always want to stay on track. It’s hard to move the ball forward.

Let’s say you get a kickoff at the 30-yard line, and you’ve got to go 70 yards. Well, it’s hard to go those 70 yards if you’re moving backwards.

Regardless of if it’s a sack, a negative run, a penalty, even a drop pass that doesn’t move it forward at all, a missed throw, whatever it may be; It’s hard to go the length of the field when you’re moving backwards. That’s always going to be a point of emphasis of what we need to do.”

Sirianni also made sure to single out Tank Bigsby, praising the running back’s effort and the physical style he brings. He pointed to a run near the goal line where Bigsby kept churning his legs and finished the play all the way down to the three before scoring. Sirianni also highlighted a special teams play in which Bigsby made a tackle on punt coverage.

“I think about that one that’s down near the goal line where he keeps his feet driving and gets us all the way down to the three and then caps it off [with] the touchdown. Obviously, a great sequence there for Tank.

Tank made a tackle on special teams yesterday on punt that was pretty awesome to see. Tank’s a guy that constantly - he’s such a good teammate and he’s constantly doing the little things he needs to do to help the team win.

It’s great to see him be rewarded with a touchdown yesterday and a couple nice runs. You knew he would be ready to go.

I thought he played solidly.”

In Other News...

Sean Mannion Is Changing Jalen Hurts' Offense In One Noticeable Way

The Eagles have opened the season with a noticeably different look, and it starts with how often they are lining up in shotgun. Through two weeks, Sean Mannion has leaned on that formation more than many expected, and the results have shown up in the passing game. Philadelphias attack has looked more efficient in that setup, with Jalen Hurts finding a rhythm that has helped the offense move more cleanly than it did at points in previous seasons.

Philadelphia now ranks sixth in the NFL in plays from shotgun, a sign that the change is not just cosmetic. Hurts has completed 70.3% of his throws from the formation, though the sample is still small and only covers two games. Even so, it is a meaningful early wrinkle for an offense still settling in, and it will be worth watching whether this heavier shotgun usage becomes a lasting feature or just a strong September trend. [Read more 🡒]

Eagles May Be Holding Back What Makai Lemon Does Best

Makai Lemons first two games have been more about usage than impact, and that has made his early-season line look quieter than expected. The rookie wide receiver has been asked to operate in a game plan heavy on screens and jet sweeps, a setup that has not given him many chances to show the full range that made him such an intriguing addition. With Sean Mannion steering the offense, the Eagles have leaned into a safer, more controlled way of getting Lemon involved, even as the raw production has stayed limited.

Hollywood Browns role offers a useful comparison, because it helps show how Philadelphia is choosing to deploy its receivers right now. The bigger question is whether the Eagles are simply easing Lemon in or holding back the part of his game that can do the most damage, with the early returns leaving plenty of room for debate about how long this approach should last. [Read more 🡒]

Eagles Are 2-0 But One Early Problem Could Loom Large

The Eagles are 2-0 and sitting atop the NFC East, but the start has come with more warning signs than a clean record might suggest. Up front, the offensive line is still being sorted out, and the team has already had to make moves to address depth concerns at tight end after injuries thinned that spot. Add in a safety group that looks vulnerable and a pass rush that has not yet found the same rhythm every week, and it is easy to see why the early wins have not quieted every concern.

Philadelphia has already taken one step by bringing in Zach Ertz to help steady the tight end room, but there is a sense this roster could still be under construction. The next few weeks figure to test whether the Eagles can patch holes through trades and internal development, especially if they want to keep pace in a division race while making sure their quarterback stays protected. [Read more 🡒]