That's at least how it looks after Lane Johnson's abrupt retirement and the trade of Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens to Baltimore. Two years removed from a second Super Bowl win, Eagles fans surely hoped for a sequel reminiscent of Rocky IV. Instead, it appears that Philadelphia fans will be forced to spend the rest of the Eagles' 2026 season watching the equivalent of Rocky V.
Yes, it could get that bad for Eagles fans during the season's final 13 games. Given recent events, there can be no other conclusion than that Eagles GM Howie Roseman is beginning the process of starting over. Championship-aspiring teams don't trade Pro Bowl-level players in October in exchange for future draft picks.
If you need further evidence, look at how the Eagles have positioned themselves for the future. In 2028, the Eagles are now slated to have two first- and two second-round picks, with the second second-rounder being acquired in the Jurgens trade. The Eagles are setting themselves up for future success, but what does that mean for the present?
If you haven't figured it out yet, it's not good. From the outside, it looks like the franchise needs a reboot inside and out. On the field, the Eagles are a shell of the team that dominated the defending two-time defending champion Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago, especially on offense.
Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley both regressed, the offensive line is now in shambles, and the revamped receiving corps hasn't masked AJ Brown's departure. Football aside, something else appears to be off with this team. They no longer have the edge that helped them become champions in 2024.
Go back to Philadelphia's Week 3 game against Chicago, a game they were favored to win as the Bears were trotting out 38-year-old Case Keenum, who was making his first start in three years. Midway through the third quarter, Hurts was laid out by linebacker D'Marco Jackson on a hit that was rightfully penalized for unnecessary roughness. Jackson was flagged, but the collateral damage was worth it.
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