Jalen Hurts has just 16 rushing attempts over the last four Eagles games. It’s his fewest amount of runs over a four-game stretch as a starter in the NFL, and the vast majority of them have been in scramble situations.
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New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion didn’t call a designed run for Hurts in two of the team’s five games. On the year, Hurts has a per-game rate of 1.2 designed runs, which is in line with last year’s career low of 1.19, according to Pro Football Focus.
What gives?
“I think it’s a new offense, one,” Hurts said on Wednesday. “Obviously I have different eyes for the game, we’ve got different units and different pieces, and ultimately different coaches. I think that’s a natural difference in perspective in what we see, how we want to approach things.”
That is a long answer without a clear meaning.
Will more comfort in the new system lead to more opportunities to use his legs?
“I’m very comfortable and capable,” Hurts replied.
Which begs the question: Do the Eagles not want Hurts running? Does he not want to run? The offense has been at its best when he is a rushing threat. The offense has dropped off dramatically over the last two seasons, especially so far in 2026.
“It’s a unique trait that he has that makes him dangerous,” Mannion said on Tuesday, two days after Hurts had another game without a called run for him.
Mannion also said game circumstances dictate whether a game plan will call for more designed runs for the quarterback or less.
The Eagles need all the help they can get right now. Their offense is among the worst performing units in the league. Their woes have been more pronounced in the second half of games. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith have been out of action and the Eagles essentially have a hodgepodge offensive line.
Are more runs for the quarterback on the way?
“I think this: I’ve used the words jelling and everybody kind of building together,” Hurts said. “Being able to find that. When we go out there, over time, I think it’s important overall to just have an identity, one, and to make it less about the opponent and more about who you are.”
The Eagles don’t have a clear identity right now. They haven’t looked like their intended offense that marries the run and pass games utilizing under-center play-action. They aren’t even calling Hurts’ number in short-yardage situations, an area of the game where they have gone from one of the most proficient teams to one of the least.
Part of the explanation for Hurts’ lack of runs over the last two games could be his calf. Hurts said he was “nicked up” in the Week 4 loss to the Rams. He didn’t pop up on the injury report last week until Friday. On Sunday in London, Hurts waited until the final moments before the coin toss to come onto the field. He said he was resting his leg as long as he could.
Jelling with all of the moving parts on offense has been “a challenge,” Hurts said. “We’ve got a lot that we can be better at, a lot that we can be better from.”
It’s unclear if Hurts will have enough reinforcements back for Sunday’s Week 6 home game vs. Carolina. Barkley and Smith were nonparticipants in practice on Wednesday, and while the Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for Landon Dickerson, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury, it’s unclear if he’ll be activated and return on Sunday. The Eagles could also be without center Drew Kendall, who did not practice Wednesday either.
The Eagles are 2-3 after three consecutive losses. They have scored just three points in their last three second halves.
“Nobody is going to wait on us,” Hurts said. “Nobody is waiting on us. We’ve had opportunities to take advantage of these games and we haven’t. That leaves us an opportunity to grow. We’ve got to take advantage of that. It’s as simple as that.”
The Eagles are back from London, looking to leave the disappointment of a last-second defeat behind while choosing instead to focus on lessons they can learn from a third straight loss. And you know what? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane actually thinks there were encouraging takeaways from the game, outcome aside. He and Mike Sielski discussed why the Eagles’ sky, despite being gray, isn’t falling just yet, and what the team can build on to if it hopes to reverse its fortunes during a key stretch of the schedule that begins Sunday. Listen here.
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