When the Eagles brought in Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator this offseason, the expectation was that Philadelphia was about to look different in a big way. The chatter centered on a new identity, more work under center, and a move toward the Kyle Shanahan style of offense.
With Jeff Stoutland gone, A.J. Brown traded, and the roster reshaped around that vision, the questions around Jalen Hurts never really stopped.
Two weeks into the regular season, though, Mannion’s biggest imprint has come from a place plenty of people didn’t see coming: he’s doubled down on what the Eagles already did well.
Philadelphia has actually increased its reliance on shotgun looks, and so far that decision is paying off.
According to SumerSports, the Eagles rank sixth in the NFL in total plays from shotgun formations. They were eighth in that category last season. That’s a notable shift, especially considering the Green Bay Packers offense Mannion came from ranked 22nd in shotgun looks in 2025.
The Eagles aren’t just using shotgun more often, either. The way they’re operating out of those sets has changed.
The protection rules are different, and the offense is spreading things out more, leaning almost entirely on 11 personnel - three-receiver looks - when Hurts is in shotgun. Some of that has been driven by a thin tight end room, something that should improve when Zach Ertz returns, but it also appears to be part of Mannion’s approach.
And it’s been effective.
The 2026 Eagles are more efficient out of shotgun in nearly every area, with the passing game standing out most. Meanwhile, under-center work has been close to an afterthought. Philadelphia ranks 26th in the league in plays from under center, and those snaps haven’t been especially productive.
For Hurts, the early results have been strong. He’s completed 70.3% of his passes through two games, a pace that would easily be a career best over a full season. He’s taking what’s there and finding open targets without forcing the issue.
That said, it’s still early. Two games, even against bad defenses, don’t make a full evaluation. But the early returns on Mannion’s shotgun-heavy approach are hard to ignore, and they’ve given Eagles fans something real to feel good about.
In Other News...
Eagles Run Game Concern Now Falls On The Entire Offense
The Eagles ground game has become a bigger talking point through the first two games of the 2026 season, and Nick Sirianni made clear Tuesday that he views it as more than an issue for the running backs alone. He framed it as a team problem involving coaches and players, while pointing to the learning curve for Cam Jurgens as he settles in at left guard and giving Tank Bigsby credit for the work he has put in, along with the touchdown he recently scored.
What makes the picture messier is how many small setbacks are feeding into the larger issue. Sirianni noted the damage done by negative plays, including sacks, penalties and runs that go backward, all of which stall offensive progress and make it harder to build rhythm. For a team that wants balance, fixing the run game now looks like something that has to happen across the entire offense, not just in one room. [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 🡒]