Nick Sirianni’s reputation for bold calls is getting a new kind of scrutiny, and this time the push is for more risk, not less.
Sports Radio 94 WIP host Tom Kelly argued that the Eagles have leaned too hard into caution, especially with Jalen Hurts, and said Sirianni needs to change that approach. Kelly pointed to a pattern of conservative football that, in his view, has held the offense back.
"But I think one of the issues, one of the main issues that- and whether this is a Jalen thing or Nick thing, and I think it's kind of both of them- is I think Nick and his preference to be conservative and not turn the ball over was a massive issue. And I think that's the way that Nick generally leans conservative, don't, you know, take chances with the football.
You need to do that sometimes. And not that I want to turn the ball over more- obviously you don't want to do that- but you need to take chances."
Kelly also said the Eagles’ offense under former coordinator Kevin Patullo did not click last year because of too many hitch routes and a tendency to get stuck behind the sticks on third down after predictable running plays on first and second down.
With Sean Mannion now taking over as offensive coordinator, Kelly believes the setup should look different. He expects more motion and more RPOs, and he sees Mannion as a play-caller with something to prove, which could lead to a more aggressive approach.
Hurts is part of that equation too. Kelly noted that the quarterback has something to prove after the NFL ranked him 17th among quarterbacks.
He also said Hurts may be more willing to spread the ball around now that he does not have to force-feed A.J. Brown after his trade last month.
At the same time, Kelly made clear that Hurts can be too conservative at times, but he sees that as preferable to the alternative. He pointed back to 2023, when Hurts pressed too much and finished with a career-high 15 interceptions.
The ideal, then, is not recklessness. It is a smarter kind of aggression. Kelly believes the Eagles can attack through the air without getting careless, and that training camp will give Mannion and Hurts time to sort out the right balance.
In Other News...
Eagles Camp Projection Just Raised A Troubling Secondary Question
A fresh 53-man projection for camp has already started to clarify a few of the Eagles bubble decisions, and one of the more notable calls is in the secondary. The roster guess points to several young or fringe players hanging around the edge of the team, while also suggesting the Eagles may lean toward familiarity and versatility as they sort out the back end of the defense.
The bigger issue, though, is safety, where the competition looks unsettled enough to shape a lot of the final roster picture. Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, J.T. Gray, Michael Carter II and Cole Wisniewski are all part of that mix, and the uncertainty there could ripple into other spots as camp unfolds. For a team trying to balance depth, special teams value and scheme fit, that kind of traffic jam is exactly the sort of problem that can linger well into August. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Receiver Battle Suddenly Feels Bigger After A.J. Brown Exit
The Eagles receiver room looks a lot different heading into 2026 training camp, and not just because DeVonta Smith is now set to step into the WR1 role. With A.J. Brown gone, the competition behind Smith has taken on a different feel, as the team sorts through a group that includes Jalin Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Darius Cooper. Each brings a different resume, from established production to developmental upside, and all of them are trying to carve out meaningful roles in an offense that suddenly has more snaps and targets to distribute.
Jalin Lemons arrival has made the No. 2 receiver conversation especially interesting, while Wicks, Brown and Moore give the Eagles a mix of experience, contract considerations and camp intrigue. Cooper, meanwhile, is trying to build on what he showed last season after making the roster as an undrafted free agent and playing through injury. For a team that has spent plenty of time leaning on its top two wideouts, this summer now feels like a real sorting exercise, with the depth chart behind Smith far less settled than it looked a few months ago. [Read more 🡒]