Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith are officially out for Week 5, and man, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense is straight-up reeling. This isn’t just a couple of guys sidelined; this is the latest gut punch for a team that blew a double-digit lead last week and is now staring down a trip to London with its two biggest playmakers watching from the sidelines. The offense is officially in free fall, and things are looking rough heading into their international matchup.
Meltdown Mode in Philly
Last week against the Los Angeles Rams was an epic home defeat for the Eagles. They blew a double-digit lead and somehow went 0-12 on third-down conversion attempts. Seriously, 0-12? That’s brutal. In the wake of that disaster, six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson retired on Tuesday, and then they traded two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens. It’s like a CVS receipt of bad news and injuries for these guys, with Barkley (hamstring) and Smith (hamstring) both getting ruled out for Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s just one hit after another for Philly.
Hurts’ Numbers Are Hurting
All those absences and injuries mean Week 5 could look a whole lot like Week 4 for the Eagles. Quarterback Jalen Hurts completed just 12 of his 27 throws for 93 yards against the Rams, taking four sacks in the process. That added up to a career-low 3.0 yards per dropback. Since Week 3, Hurts is averaging an NFL-worst 4.7 yards per pass attempt, a huge drop from his 7.5 yards per pass average through the first two weeks, where he ranked 11th best in the league. It sounds like Philadelphia’s offense could be stuck in the mud once again this Sunday. Head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Sean Mannion definitely have their work cut out for them adjusting to these star playmaker absences and a “schematic clash” so early in the season.
NFC East Still Up For Grabs
Here’s the one bit of “good news” for the Eagles: even with a loss in Week 5, the NFC East will likely remain totally up for grabs. The New York Giants are 3-1, sure, but their ceiling is capped big time because quarterback Jaxson Dart is out for the season with a knee injury. Their fill-in, Jameis Winston, ranks dead last in the NFL in completion percentage at 55.1% this season. Plus, the Giants are also without their best pass rusher, three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns, who tore his ACL and meniscus and is out for the rest of the year. Remember, he had 16.5 sacks in 2025, which was second in the league. Over in Washington, the Commanders are sitting at 1-3, and quarterback Jayden Daniels is once again dealing with an elbow injury. So while the Eagles are struggling hard, the rest of the division isn’t exactly cruising either.
The Eagles are heading to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1), and it’s going to be interesting to see if Sirianni and Mannion can pull some magic out of a hat. What’s at stake? Avoiding another repeat of Week 4 and showing that this offense can still move the ball despite the mounting injuries.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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