Martin Frank breaks down Eagles’ dismal loss to Chicago Bears
Eagles beat writer Martin Frank on what went wrong offensively and defensively in the 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears.
- The Eagles will be without right tackle Lane Johnson and defensive tackle Jalen Carter for their game against the Chargers.
- Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is questionable to play after having surgery on his non-throwing hand.
- If Herbert cannot play, backup Trey Lance will start for the Chargers.
PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles know they won’t have star right tackle Lane Johnson and star defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Both have been ruled out of the Eagles’ Dec. 8 game against the Los Angeles Chargers with injuries. Johnson is missing his third straight game with a foot injury, while Carter will likely miss a few games after a non-surgical procedure, according to a source, on both of his shoulders.
What the Eagles don’t know is the Chargers’ quarterback.
Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets
That’s because QB Justin Herbert is listed as questionable on the Chargers’ injury report after having surgery on his left (non-throwing) hand earlier this week. Herbert broke the hand on Nov. 30 against the Raiders.
He left the game to get it wrapped, then returned in the Chargers’ 31-14 win.
Herbert was clearly limited upon returning, although he did go 15-for-20 for 151 yard with 2 touchdown passes and an interceptions. When Herbert returned to the game, he took all snaps in the shotgun formation to minimize the impact on his hand.
And it’s possible that could be the case again if he plays.
If Herbert doesn’t play, the Chargers will go with backup Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 who has never lived up to expectations. Lance has never thrown more than 71 passes in a season, and that was as a rookie.
The Eagles, of course, are preparing for both quarterbacks. But they offer different styles. Herbert is one of the more prolific passers since entering the NFL in 2020 as Los Angeles’ first-round pick, No. 6 overall.
But he’s also adept as a runner and in the play-action pass game. Herbert has rushed for a career-high 353 yards this season, more than Eagles’ QB Jalen Hurts, who has 329. Lance isn’t nearly as accurate of a passer, although he can make plays with his feet. His career completion percentage is 56.4.
It’s likely that Herbert won’t run much, if at all, if he plays however.
“You always have to go through every situation that could possibly happen,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said on Dec. 6. “And yeah, we will prepare for both.”
Celebrate the Eagles Super Bowl win with our new book
Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo said if Herbert does play, it will be different.
“It changes up the run dynamic, the way he has to hold the ball,” Ojomo said, adding that Herbert likely won’t be using his left hand to hand the ball off. “And anything that helps us get an extra second. So I think him having to hold the ball differently probably makes him hold it a little bit (longer), and that’s to our advantage, I hope.”
One thing that won’t be to the Eagles’ advantage is the likely return of running back Omarion Hampton, the Chargers’ first-round pick last spring. Hampton hasn’t played since Oct. 5. Hampton had 414 yards rushing in the first five games.
Hampton is listed as questionable, but he has been a full participant in practice.
Since he has been out, Kimani Vidal has taken up much of the slack. Vidal had 126 rushing yards against the Raiders and 532 overall. For the first time, the Chargers should have a solid 1-2 punch at running back.
That was a problem for the Eagles in their last game, as they allowed 281 rushing yards to the Bears’ duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai in their 24-15 loss.
And that was with Carter playing.
“They do,” have a good running game, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “They’ve rushed for 200 yards on two teams this year … They have a big tight end, big fullback, pretty big O-line, good backs. They run it very, very well.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the “Eye On The Eagles” newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday monring. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
