Lane Johnson’s retirement has changed the feel around the Eagles fast, and not in a good way. With the offense sputtering and injuries piling up, plenty of fans are already looking ahead to the offseason, wondering about Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts, the trade deadline and how Howie Roseman might reset the roster.
That reaction makes sense. Philadelphia is 2-2, the schedule is about to get tougher, and the team has to keep moving without its future Hall of Fame right tackle.
Still, the season is not over. Not by a long shot.
If the Eagles are going to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot and a third straight NFC East title, the path is pretty clear: Hurts and Sean Mannion’s offense need to get better, and Vic Fangio’s defense has to start looking like the group it was built to be.
Right now, it doesn’t.
Through four weeks, the Eagles’ defense has been ordinary at best and shaky at worst. It ranks 26th in success rate at 46.59%, 17th in EPA/play at -0.02, 21st in yards allowed per game at 344, 16th in points allowed per game at 23.3, tied for the fewest takeaways with two, and tied for the second-fewest sacks with four.
Those are not the numbers of a unit carrying a team. They’re the numbers of a defense that has been dragged into the mud by an offense that can’t sustain drives.
The workload has only made that worse. The Eagles’ defense has been on the field for 66 plays per game, the fifth-most in the NFL, and that kind of strain shows up late. When the offense keeps stalling, Fangio’s group is left trying to hold the whole thing together well into the second half.
Injuries haven’t helped, either. Zack Baun missed Sunday’s loss to the Rams with a concussion. Quinyon Mitchell left with a knee injury, Jonathan Greenard exited with an ankle injury, and Jalen Carter is dealing with wrist pain.
There is some hope on that front. Baun, Mitchell and Greenard are expected back soon, possibly as early as this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Even so, the defense has to start producing more, and quickly. Carter, who signed a $152 million contract in July, needs to either get healthy or raise his level.
Jordan Davis, who got a $78 million extension, has to become more disruptive. Jalyx Hunt, who turned heads in training camp, has to deliver on the breakout buzz.
Jihaad Campbell, the 2025 first-round pick, has to keep developing. Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Riq Woolen have to keep holding up in coverage.
And the safety rotation - Drew Mukuba, Michael Carter II, Kenny Moore II or Marcus Epps - has to clean things up on the back end.
Philadelphia has already invested heavily in this defense, and more spending is coming. With that kind of money and that much talent, the standard is obvious.
If the Eagles are going to make this season work, the defense has to meet it.
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 🡒]