There’s a lot at stake with the Eagles upcoming season. Coming off a Super Bowl loss, there’s only one thing to avoid. The Super Bowl hangover the 2022 Rams had. (minus the parade)
While we can’t foresee any season-altering injuries. It is possible to look into what players could make or break the season.
Running Back Changes
The Eagles moved on from Miles Sanders his first season with 1000+ Yards and 10+ Touchdowns.
Carolina may have signed Sanders to a 4-year, $25,400,000 contract, but Howie Roseman made his own additions to the backfield this off-season.
Both D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny could be penciled in as the RB1 on the Eagles. With OTA’s kicking off all around the league, we’ll soon know who Nick Sirianni trusts with the starting position. Currently, ESPN has D’Andre Swift as RB1, and Rashaad Penny as RB2.
Regardless of which backfield addition takes the lead role, big things should be expected. Both Swift and Penny been in a starting position, behind some less than favorable offensive lines in Detroit (8th) and Seattle (27th). Below are their 2022 stat lines, compared to Miles Sanders season.
Swift: 14 Games, 8 Started – 99 Attempts, 542 Rushing Yards, 5 Rushing TDs – 70 Targets, 48 Receptions, 389 Receiving Yards, 3 Receiving Touchdowns
Penny: 5 Games, 5 Started – 57 Attempts, 346 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TDs – 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 16 Yards, 0 Receiving Touchdowns
Sanders: 17 Games, 15 Started – 259 Attempts, 1,269 Rushing Yards, 11 Rushing TDs – 26 Targets, 20 Receptions, 78 Yards, 0 Receiving Touchdowns
With multiple options in the backfield, the Eagles should continue to feast on the ground. To keep that up, they’ll need the support from the best Offensive Line in the NFL.
Pave The Lane
Lane Johnson hasn’t surrendered a sack since Week 11 of the 2020 season. Although injuries have shortened his seasons, Johnson has played 28 games in that stretch. Recently signing a 1-year extension that will see the Right Tackle under contract through 2026. Lane Johnson will start and finish his career as a Philadelphia Eagle.
As 1/5 of the Eagles 1st rank Offensive Line, PFF had Lane ranked 2nd in their Offensive Tackle rating, behind San Francisco’s Trent Williams.
While Johnson may have missed 2 games near the end of the 2022 season. He played through a torn abductor in his groin for 3 playoff games, including Super Bowl 57. During those games, Johnson played 202 snaps, and only gave up 2 Pressures in pass protection.
Since being drafted in 2013, The Eagles have a 79-47-1 (.626%) record when Lane Johnson plays, and are 13-22 (.371%) without #65.
The Eagles made the right choice extending Lane to a $33,445,000 contract.
Jalen Hurts
You can’t score points without a Quarterback. Just ask 49ers fans.
Although the obvious position and player to impact an offense. The Eagles made Jalen Hurts the highest paid player in the NFL for 10 days. Signing a $255 Million, 5-year contract, Hurts will be under contract until 2029.
They’ll expect growth from the 24-year old Quarterback who has shown nothing but improvement since taking over for Carson Wentz in Week 14 of the 2020 season.
With the upcoming season, the bar is high for Hurts. An almost MVP season, with 3,701 Passing Yards, 22 Passing Touchdowns, 13 Rushing Touchdowns and 760 Rushing Yards. With extended backfield depth, and the QB Sneak ‘Tush Push’ here to stay for another year. Expect Jason Kelce and his 92 Percenters to have another year of QB sneak success.
92% of the time it works every time https://t.co/detYHVYZpU
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) October 3, 2022
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Which Defensive players are you expecting to have an impact on the 2023 season?
Go Birds!
Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images
The post Four Eagles On Offense That Will Impact The 2023 Season appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.