ThePhiladelphia Eagleshead into their bye week with a seven-game losing streak and plenty of questions about the team's direction. Sunday's 19-11 loss to the New York Giantsoffered another reminder of how far this roster has fallen, but it also created opportunities to reconsider recent decisions and craft a game plan for the immediate and distant future.
The bye week arrives at a particularly uncomfortable time for an organization that entered the season expecting to compete for another championship. Instead, the Eagles are left searching for answers after a collapse that has exposed problems well beyond one bad afternoon. The challenge now is recognizing which decisions can still be corrected and which ones may require a much harder conversation.
The Eagles need to figure out who belongs in their future
Few want to admit the season is lost, but the Eagles have reached a point where winning the NFC East shouldn't be the primary focus. At 2-7, the more pressing question is whether the players currently on this roster deserve to be part of the organization's future.
Philadelphia needs to find out what it has before another offseason of roster decisions arrives. Legitimate concerns exist about several young players, including Andrew Mukuba and Jihaad Campbell. Both entered the season with expectations, but neither has consistently provided the answers Philadelphia needs.
Makai Lemon, meanwhile, has shown improvement and offered some reason for optimism. The Eagles could potentially build around his development. That's why the remaining games should be about evaluation.
Eli Stowers played just seven offensive snaps against the Giants, making it difficult to determine what he can contribute. Philadelphia should be giving players like him more opportunities while identifying which young pieces can become part of the next competitive roster. The Eagles don't need to hand out playing time indiscriminately, but they can no longer afford to leave important questions unanswered.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. must be rewarded for his performance
Jihaad Campbell's absence has opened the door for Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and he's making a strong case to remain in the lineup. Trotter led Philadelphia with 10 tackles against theGiants. He added three tackles for loss and forced a fumble. He also played 64 of the defense's 67 snaps.
That creates an interesting decision when Campbell returns. The former first-round pick was drafted with significant expectations, but draft position shouldn't guarantee playing time. Trotter has earned consideration for a larger role, and the Eagles should give both linebackers a chance to contribute rather than automatically restoring Campbell to the starting lineup.
Campbell still has plenty of potential, but the coaching staff should reward performance over reputation. That would also give Philadelphia a better chance to determine whether Trotter can become a long-term answer at linebacker.
Moving on from Nolan Smith may not be a foregone conclusion
Jalyx Hunt's emergence last season fueled speculation that Philadelphia could eventually move on from 2023 first-rounder Nolan Smith. Hunt led the Eagles in interceptions and sacks, making his development an encouraging sign for the defense. Smith, however, has outplayed Hunt this season.
Smith has appeared in eight of nine games and is tied for the team lead in sacks (five). He added his fifth against the Giants, while Hunt's playing time has been more limited. Smith's injury history remains a legitimate concern, but his current production makes it difficult to justify treating him as expendable.
The Eagles don't need to choose between the two edge rushers. Hunt still has considerable potential, and Smith is showing why he deserves a place in the defensive rotation. Philadelphia should be looking for ways to get production from both rather than creating a roster decision it doesn't need to make.
The losing streak has exposed plenty of problems, but it also allows the Eagles to reassess their roster. As with the Campbell-Trotter discussion, the remaining games should help determine who belongs in the team's plans, regardless of draft position or prior expectations.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Three Eagles roster decisions that deserve attention after Giants loss
