The Philadelphia Eagles’ snap counts from Week 2 tell a pretty clear story: the heat in Nashville mattered, and it changed how the rotation looked all over the field.
Turf temperature reached 157 degrees, and that helped drive a much different distribution than the Eagles had in Week 1, when a lot of the starters handled a heavier load. Head coach Nick Sirianni made sure nobody missed the point afterward.
"I didn't play a snap and I was hot," said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni after the game. (via a transcript provided by the Titans). "It was hot as s- and everybody was hot as s-. It took all hands on deck, and like I said, I didn't play a snap and I had to get an IV.
"I just so appreciate how much the guys prepared. I so appreciate how much they fought through because it wasn't easy.
It's not easy. They fought and they clawed and they scratched and did anything they had to do to get the win."
Even with the conditions, there were still some notable changes worth watching. Hollywood Brown got the bump Sirianni hinted at, and he backed it up by playing 17 of the 76 offensive snaps. Brown also had two carries for 12 yards, and 57.1% of his pass snaps came from the slot.
Darius Cooper’s role also ticked upward, with 31 snaps, or 41% of the offense. Makai Lemon was on the field for 63% of the snaps and actually played one more snap than Dontayvion Wicks, 48 to 47.
Lemon still logged a strong workload, but Cooper’s growing share of routes and targets stands out. That could mean Cooper and Brown start eating into Lemon’s snaps going forward.
Tight end was another spot where the Eagles had to patch things together after Dallas Goedert’s injury. Johnny Mundt handled 49 of the 76 offensive snaps, which came out to 64%, and served as the TE1.
He also made clear he isn’t really a TE1, but the Eagles were left with Mundt and E.J. Jenkins, who played 33% of the snaps, once Goedert was out.
Philadelphia used just 14 plays in 12 personnel, which was only 18.4% with Goedert unavailable. Even when 13 personnel is included, the team only lined up with multiple tight ends on 19.7% of its plays. That leaves one obvious takeaway: they need to sign a tight end this week.
On the edge, Jonathan Greenard’s absence for a second straight week pushed Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith into huge workloads. Hunt played 42 of 53 defensive snaps, or 79%, while Smith was right there too at 41 snaps and 77%.
Arnold Ebiketie saw his time cut down to 28% of the snaps, and A.J. Epenesa was even lighter at just 8 snaps, or 15%. If Greenard returns, those numbers could shrink again as the rotation settles into Greenard, Hunt, and Smith.
Through two games, the Eagles still aren’t getting much from Ebiketie and Epenesa, and the pass rush has been uneven as well. They need Greenard.
Then there’s the Jordan Davis situation. Moro Ojomo out-snapped him, 43 to 23, which works out to 81% to 43%.
The Eagles can point to the heat if they want, but Davis was on the field for only six pass-rushing snaps. Six.
That’s worth repeating because Davis was paid $26 million a year this offseason. Jalen Carter was out there for 77% of the snaps, so he barely left the field, and Byron Young also saw more action with 13 snaps, or 25%.
Whether Ojomo’s workload grows next week remains to be seen, but Sunday was a notable shift.
At linebacker, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. still isn’t cracking the rotation in place of Campbell. Campbell played 47 of 53 defensive snaps, or 89%, while Trotter did not record a defensive snap for the second straight week.
Zack Baun stayed on the field for every defensive snap again and has yet to miss one through the first two weeks. Unless one of the starters needs a break or has to miss time, Trotter Jr. is not getting on the field.
In Other News...
Eagles Suddenly Have A Dallas Goedert Problem They Can't Ignore
Saquon Barkley walked away from Sundays game against the Titans with a stinger, but the bigger concern for Philadelphia may have been what happened to Dallas Goedert. The veteran tight end left with a knee injury and did not return, and while the team still does not have a clear read on the severity, the uncertainty alone is enough to complicate a position group that has already been asked to carry plenty of weight in the offense.
The Eagles have dealt with tight end injuries before, but Goederts situation is different because of both his role and the lack of easy answers behind him. If the injury lingers, Philadelphia may have to look at adding help, either by promoting a backup into a larger role or exploring the trade market for another tight end to stabilize the offense while it waits for clarity. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Escaped Nashville As Titans Star Sent A Message Fans Wont Ignore
The Eagles left Nissan Stadium with a 24-20 win, but the kind of game that lingers usually says as much about the opponent as it does about the scoreboard. Tennessee defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was a force throughout the afternoon, piling up six tackles, three quarterback hits and a sack while helping make life difficult for Philadelphias offense in a tight, physical contest.
Simmons postgame message made clear the Titans believed they had chances to flip the result if their pressure had turned into a few more key plays. For the Eagles, it was another reminder that even when they survive on the road, narrow wins can come with plenty of warning signs the next opponent will notice. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have Lineup Questions After Tennessee Took A Toll
The Eagles came out of a brutal afternoon in Tennessee having used far more of the roster than they normally would, a reflection of just how punishing the conditions were from the start. Nick Sirianni pointed to the heat after the game and said the team handled it with effort, but the snap counts told the fuller story: Philadelphia had to cycle through players in waves, and that touched nearly every spot on the field.
Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert both left with injuries, which only adds to the lineup uncertainty heading into the next stretch. The Eagles were already forced to make adjustments along the offensive line and in the receiver rotation, and the larger concern now is how those changes hold up if the toll from Tennessee carries over into the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]