The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season, which saw them finish 11-6 and miss the playoffs. With a new year comes new possibilities, and some Eagles players are poised to rebound from down seasons. Here's a look at 11 Eagles players who had down seasons in 2025, and whether they'll bounce back or regress in 2026.
QB Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts is under heavy scrutiny in 2026, and for good reason. He had a difficult season in 2025, with the Eagles' offense struggling and Hurts not performing to his standard. He was not a threat as a runner, and some old quirks reemerged, such as a league-low usage of the middle of the field. However, Hurts has a history of responding to pressure and has not had two consecutive down seasons. If he doesn't have a bounce-back season, it may be time for the team to consider other options. Personally, I think Hurts will rebound, as the scheme can't be worse than it was last year, and he has something to prove. 📈
RB Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley had one of the best running back seasons in NFL history in 2024, but 2025 was a different story. He played behind an offensive line that was without Lane Johnson for eight games and a pair of interior linemen who did not play to their standard due to injury. Barkley also had 346 touches in 2025, 136 fewer than he did in 2024. However, he should be more efficient in 2026. In my opinion, Barkley did not have the same explosion in 2025 as he did in 2024, but he should still rebound to some degree. 📈
C Cam Jurgens
Cam Jurgens had a procedure last February to alleviate nerve pain and missed most of training camp. He acknowledged during the regular season that he wasn't fully recovered, and it showed on the field. However, he is healthier now than he was last year, and should rebound to some degree. Back injuries are tricky, especially for offensive linemen, but Jurgens is certainly in a better spot now. 📈
LG Landon Dickerson
Landon Dickerson battled through an assortment of injuries in 2025, and has a long injury history as a college prospect. I'm more confident in Jurgens' chances of returning to form than Dickerson's. 📉
RT Lane Johnson
Lane Johnson was still an elite player when he was healthy last season, but he missed eight games with a Lisfranc injury. While he doesn't belong on this list, I wanted to push back on the common sentiment that it's expected he'll miss a lot of games every season going forward. He kept himself in great shape and missed just four games due to injury the prior three seasons combined. 📈
TE Dallas Goedert
Dallas Goedert was a rare bright spot in the Eagles' passing game in 2025, but he had a drastic drop-off in blocking efficiency. He is also now 31 years old, and tight ends don't typically age well. It's concerning that Goedert was a poor blocker last season, and we could see his decline accelerate a bit in 2026. 📉
iDL Jalen Carter
Jalen Carter had a disappointing season in 2025, collecting 33 tackles, three sacks, and seven batted passes in 11 games. However, he did block kicks in games against the Rams and Bills that the Eagles might have otherwise lost. Carter had shoulder issues throughout the season, and the same thing may have happened to him as a heavy workload caught up to him. I expect him to rebound in 2026. 📈
EDGE Jonathan Greenard
Jonathan Greenard battled through a shoulder injury in 2025, which eventually ended his season and required surgery. He'll get a fresh start in Philly after the Eagles traded for him, and he should still have a few prime years left. He'll also likely get more than his share of one-on-one matchups along a very talented Eagles defensive line. 📈
EDGE Nolan Smith
Nolan Smith had a breakout season in 2024, but he did not have the season that he or the Eagles were hoping for in 2025. He missed five games after aggravating a triceps injury and was on a pitch count upon his return. Smith is a very undersized edge defender, and his hard-nosed style of play is detrimental to his health and durability. I'm not sure we'll see the Nolan Smith of 2024 again. 📉
CB Riq Woolen
Riq Woolen struggled in 2025, even losing playing time while being floated on the trade block for the better part of the season. However, he was still a standout player in spring practices and earned rare over-the-top praise from Fangio. The arrow is pointing up here. 📈
K Jake Elliott
Jake Elliott connected on just 74.1 percent of his field goal attempts in 2025, and there were several games where his missed kicks mattered. He is pretty safely the best kicker in Eagles history, but over the last two seasons, he has simply become too unreliable. It's hard to confidently predict that it's going to get better. 📉
