Jalen Hurts’ Reduced Role in the Run Game Is Reshaping the Eagles’ Offense - and Not for the Better
There’s no sugarcoating it - the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense just hasn’t looked right lately. Coming off a 24-15 loss to the Bears on Black Friday, the unit turned in one of its most underwhelming performances of the season. And while the spotlight has mostly been on offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, it turns out the issue might run deeper - all the way to QB1.
Jalen Hurts, the engine behind so much of what’s worked for the Eagles in recent years, has reportedly made a conscious decision to scale back his involvement in the run game. According to multiple Eagles beat reporters, Hurts asked the coaching staff during the offseason to limit designed quarterback runs, a staple of Philly’s offensive identity during his rise to MVP contention.
A Strategic Shift - with Consequences
This wasn’t a decision made in a vacuum. Hurts has taken his fair share of hits over the past couple of seasons, including a concussion and other late-season injuries that impacted both his availability and effectiveness down the stretch.
From a durability standpoint, it makes sense. Protect the franchise quarterback.
Preserve him for a potential playoff run. But that logic comes with a steep price.
Without Hurts as a consistent threat to take off on designed runs, the Eagles’ ground attack has lost its edge - and it shows. Saquon Barkley, brought in to be a dynamic addition to the backfield, hasn’t looked like the same explosive runner we saw last season.
And part of that has to do with the fact that defenses no longer have to account for Hurts pulling the ball and taking off. The threat of the zone-read is diminished, and it’s allowing defenders to key in on Barkley without hesitation.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Hurts’ rushing stats this season paint a clear picture. Through this point in the year, he’s logged just 84 carries for 329 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. That’s a noticeable drop from the kind of production we’ve seen from him in the past - both in terms of volume and explosiveness.
Compare that to last season, when the Eagles had one of the most dominant rushing attacks in league history. It was a true pick-your-poison offense, with Hurts and the running backs working in tandem to keep defenses guessing. That dynamic has all but disappeared.
Coaching Constraints and Offensive Identity
This isn’t about pointing fingers at Patullo or Johnson. If anything, it’s becoming clear that the playcalling has been constrained by Hurts’ own request.
The Eagles’ offensive staff is working with a limited version of what made this group so dangerous. When the quarterback isn’t a threat to run, it affects everything - from red zone efficiency to third-down conversions to how defenses scheme for RPOs.
And while Hurts is doing what he believes is best for his long-term health and the team’s success, the current results suggest the Eagles are missing a key piece of their identity.
A Critical Crossroads
The Eagles have now dropped two straight, and the offense looks stuck in neutral. With the season entering its most critical stretch, the question becomes: does Hurts loosen the reins and allow more designed runs back into the playbook?
It’s not about padding stats. It’s about restoring balance to an offense that’s become too predictable.
Hurts has always been praised for his leadership and his willingness to do whatever it takes to win. Right now, that might mean putting his body on the line a bit more - not recklessly, but strategically - to get this team back on track.
Because when Hurts is a threat with his legs, everything else opens up. Defenses hesitate.
Lanes widen. Barkley gets more room to operate.
And the Eagles start looking like the team that stormed through the NFC last year.
The clock’s ticking. The playoffs are around the corner. And if Philadelphia wants to make another deep run, it may need Hurts to reintroduce the part of his game that made this offense so dangerous in the first place.