Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts face tough test in Philadelphia

Coach Nick Sirianni confronts mounting roster shortages in Philadelphia as key starters miss game time. The depleted roster prepares to travel abroad while trying to break a two-game losing streak.

The team travels to London to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday morning. Six Week 1 starters remain sidelined on offense.

All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson retired abruptly on Tuesday. He cited a desire to focus on his mental health. Center Cam Jurgens was traded to Baltimore a day later.

Left guard Landon Dickerson has not played since Week 1. Center Drew Kendall is out this week. Receiver DeVonta Smith will miss his second straight game.

Running back Saquon Barkley is injured. Backup Tank Bigsby is out as well. Wideout Marquise “Hollywood” Brown remains sidelined.

Starting tight end Dallas Goedert was limited in practice. He missed the last two games. Goedert is expected to play on Sunday.

“This is life in the NFL, and we will do the things that we can control to put ourselves in the best position to win against a very good football team,” Sirianni said. “You will never hear me use anything as an excuse. Our job is to go handle the things that we can control, tough, detailed and together, and put ourselves in the best position to win this upcoming week.”

The offense scored only 27 points in consecutive losses to Chicago and Los Angeles. The group produced 420 total yards across those two games. They missed 17 straight third downs over the past six quarters.

Rookie offensive coordinator Sean Mannion works with a patchwork line and backup skill players. Mannion defended the scheme during team preparations.

“We’re implementing something that we absolutely believe in,” Mannion said. “You’re always looking, like we’ve said, throughout this process, to make it as good as it can be and add tweaks and add wrinkles here and there. We believe in the things that we’ve installed and that we’ve implemented from a fundamental perspective in terms of the structure of our offense. We’re going to keep leaning into that and make it as good as it can be.”

Philadelphia lost a 10-point lead in the final five minutes against the Rams. The team lost 24-20 to drop to 2-2.

A fourth-quarter handoff to Bigsby failed when Jurgens collided with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts kept the ball on third down for no gain. Sirianni attempted a fourth-down pass that fell incomplete to Darius Cooper.

Hurts completed 12 of 27 passes for 93 yards and two scores against the Rams. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 153 yards and an interception against the Bears.

“This is when you find out what you have,” Hurts said. “You find out who you’re going out there to battle with. You see how you respond to adversity, how you show up to work every day, what’s your energy, what’s your level of persistence and resilience and determination to go out there and do the job.”

Sirianni holds an active league-best .685 winning percentage. Two seasons ago, local fans chanted for his dismissal during a 3-2 start. Sirianni yelled back at spectators before leading the franchise to a Super Bowl title.

That championship run featured Barkley running behind coordinator Kellen Moore and coordinator Vic Fangio. The unit won 10 straight games and finished 14-3. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the final round.

Hurts earned Super Bowl MVP honors during that championship game. He also passed against Patrick Mahomes in a 2023 title game loss. Sirianni and Hurts have five playoff trips and three division titles since pairing in 2021.

Professional football franchises alter active game rosters weekly to manage player health. Team medical personnel evaluate physical limits during mid-week practices. Travel schedules require early lineup designations before teams depart for international stadium venues.

Supporters in Philadelphia watch closely as the staff adjusts personnel. The roster changes test the leadership group ahead of Sunday.