The Philadelphia Eagles entered the season with everyone expecting some changes on offense. After hiring Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator, the offseason saw considerable discussion about incorporating new concepts into the scheme.
More under-center looks, expanded play-action opportunities, and better integration of the run and pass game were among the topics frequently mentioned as the Eagles prepared for the 2026 campaign. Through two games, we've all seen the expected ups and downs; however, the offense remains a work in progress.
Speaking to reporters Saturday, head coach Nick Sirianni was asked why the Eagles have used play-action at a lower rate than some expected, given the offseason focus on those concepts. While Coach acknowledged
the small sample size, he also offered what may be his most revealing assessment yet of where the offense currently stands.
"Right now, it’s a low sample size. We’ve been doing some no-huddle stuff as well that. Sometimes you’re running different things from those areas. We always knew there’d be a mix of some of the things that we’ve done in the past and some of the new things that we want to bring. I think that we’ve had good production on the ones that we’ve done. It gives Jalen really good space from the line of scrimmage between him and the line of scrimmage. He’s handled those nicely, and our guys have handled it nicely."
The Eagles battled through an uneven Week 1 and won ugly against the Washington Commanders. Despite throwing two interceptions, Jalen Hurts led a seemingly more polished effort (and offered some heroics) in Week 2. Nick Sirianni understands all that, but in his answer, he also provided a broader admission.
"I think it’s just early, and it’s early in a sample size, and [I] imagine we’ll have this conversation again or not. We’ll see where we are at that particular point. It’s a little early right now because we’re still figuring out who we are and what we do best and all those different things."
Sirianni says Eagles are still learning what works best.
Coach Sirianni's comment stands out because it reflects the reality of a team balancing continuity with change. The Eagles retained many of the offensive principles that helped them succeed in recent years, but Mannion's arrival brought fresh ideas and a different perspective. Finding the right balance between those philosophies is often an ongoing process rather than something that is fully established during training camp. Sirianni's approach is also cited as another factor affecting offensive play-calling.
The Eagles have spent stretches of the first two weeks operating behind the chains, creating situations that naturally limit what offenses can call. Play-action concepts tend to be most effective when teams stay ahead of schedule on early downs and maintain a credible rushing threat.
"Some of that, too, is being in first and second down and manageable and not being behind the sticks," Sirianni said. "We know that we've been behind the sticks a little bit."
Those situations have forced Philadelphia to adjust on the fly rather than consistently run its preferred playbooks. As the season progresses, the offense is expected to keep evolving. Sure, Sirianni is emphasizing that small sample, but his comments suggest the coaching staff is still gathering information about what the unit does best.
That process continues Monday night against the Chicago Bears. Whether the Eagles lean more heavily into the concepts introduced this offseason or continue blending old and new ideas, Sirianni made one thing clear: Philadelphia's offensive identity is still being shaped in real time.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Why the Eagles haven’t used more play-action under Sean Mannion
