The Philadelphia Eaglesdon't need a miracle to win in London. They need answers. The obvious question: Is a week enough time to find them all? Every time we think we've found some understanding, three more unanswered questions arise.
Two consecutive losseshave turned what once looked like a promising start into a week of uncertainty.Injuries keep piling up. The offense is searching for an identity. The defense is still trying to solve its late-game issues. Oh, and by the way, now Philadelphia must continue this season's journey without one of its leaders, Lane Johnson.
The good news? The Eagles still have plenty of opportunity. Sunday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars offers a chance to reset the narrative before the season drifts further
off course. The Jaguars enter as favorites and winners of three of their first four games. Trevor Lawrence is playing some of the best football of his career, and Jacksonville has looked every bit like a legitimate contender through the season's first month.
If Philadelphia wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a win, several players will need to elevate their game. Here are five Eagles who must step up in Week 5.
Will Shipley must keep the offense balanced.
Injuries don't care about depth charts. With Saquon Barkley expected to miss time and Tank Bigsby now on injured reserve, the spotlight shifts directly to Will Shipley. It would be unfair to expect Bigsby or Barkley to play the same way. That would be unrealistic, but Sean Mannion has the tools to work with. If he plays to his strengths, he can help maintain offensive balance and keep Jacksonville's defense from pinning its ears back on Jalen Hurts.
Markel Bell faces a baptism by fire.
The succession plan arrived sooner than expected. Philadelphia always believed Markel Bell could eventually replace Lane Johnson at right tackle. Few expected that process to accelerate this quickly. Bell's first start came against theLos Angeles Rams, and while there were understandable growing pains, there is little time to dwell on them.
The Jaguars present another difficult challenge. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen lead a defensive front that can disrupt games. Bell and Jordan Mailata will have their hands full. They'll need to keep Hurts upright and avoid the types of drive-killing mistakes that can derail an offense already struggling to find consistency.
The wild card: Willie Lampkin may finally be called upon sooner than expected.
The Eagles are quickly discovering how fragile offensive-line depth can be. Cam Jurgens is gone, which adds uncertainty along the interior, and if Philadelphia needs Willie Lampkin, he could be thrust into meaningful action.
Much of the discussion surrounding Lampkin has centered on his size what nobody questions is his competitiveness. If his number is called, he'll be asked to hold up against a Jacksonville front that has troubled opposing offensive lines all season. It won't be the easiest debut assignment, but it may become necessary.
Jihaad Campbell needs a bounce-back performance.
Few Eagles defenders have generated more debate recently than Jihaad Campbell. Fans and analysts have focused heavily on his coverage struggles, especially after repeatedly seeing him attacked through the air. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio offered a different perspective this week, saying Campbell keeps improving with each game. Both things can be true.
Campbell's athletic ability remains obvious, but Trevor Lawrence will almost certainly test Philadelphia's linebackers. If Campbell can tighten up his coverage responsibilities while continuing to impact the run game, it would go a long way toward stabilizing the middle of the defense.
Darius Cooper must continue his emergence.
Every offense searching for answers eventually needs someone to provide them. Lately, Darius Cooper has done exactly that. Whether by design or circumstance, Cooper has become one of Hurts' most trusted available targets. Last week he delivered a memorable first half.
He found the end zone twice and continued a remarkable trend of making the most of limited opportunities. The challenge now is sustaining that impact for four quarters. Cooper finished the second half without a catch despite drawing four targets. Philadelphia will again need him to provide reliable production against a Jacksonville secondary that has played increasingly well during the Jaguars' recent surge.
Worth noting
Jacksonville enters Week 5 allowing just 74.3 rushing yards per game, the second-best mark in the NFL. Shipley's ability to create positive runs on early downs could determine whether Philadelphia stays ahead of schedule offensively.
Keep an eye on Dameon Pierceas he's been elevated to the 53-man roster, but Shipley appears poised to carry the largest workload. As for the five aforementioned Eagles, Philadelphia needs meaningful contributions from each.
Winning in London will require more than another strong quarter or a few isolated flashes. Philadelphia needs answers at running back, on the offensive line, at linebacker, and among its supporting pass-catchers. If these five Eagles can rise to the occasion, the trip home may feel considerably shorter. If not, questions about this team will only grow.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles-Jaguars: 5 players who must step up for Philadelphia in London
