The Eagles Cannot Run the Ball and the Numbers Are Staggering

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles gained 22 rushing yards on 18 attempts against Jacksonville on Sunday. That is 1.2 yards per carry, and it was their worst rushing performance since Week 2 of the 2015 season, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Dameon Pierce led the team with 14 yards on 11 carries. No other back cracked double digits.

Injuries explain most of it. Saquon Barkley sat out with a hamstring injury. Will Shipley left in the first half with a partial plantar fascia tear that could cost him multiple weeks. Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve after core-muscle surgery.

Pierce and Carson Steele both began the week on the practice squad. Pierce played a career-high 48 snaps. Steele played 20 snaps, all on special teams.

The collapse is startling for a team built around the run. Philadelphia’s offense has leaned on Barkley all season, and without him there is no established alternative.

Defenses know it. Jacksonville crowded the line of scrimmage and dared the Eagles to beat them another way, and for long stretches they could not.

Getting Barkley back is the only real fix. Until then, the Eagles will have to manufacture a ground game from spare parts.