Nick Sirianni faces growing job pressure as Eagles adjust to life without Lane Johnson

Nick Sirianni’s margin for error is shrinking in Philadelphia. A 2-2 start, driven largely by offensive struggles, has turned the spotlight squarely on the Eagles head coach less than two years after a Super Bowl win. That pressure intensified Tuesday when longtime right tackle Lane Johnson abruptly retired, removing a key pillar from an attack that was already sputtering through the first month of the 2026 season.

Offense near the bottom, now without its cornerstone tackle

The numbers underline how far the Eagles have slipped. Through four games, they rank 26th in scoring at 18.8 points per outing and 29th in total offense at 269.8 yards per game. Even with Saquon Barkley in the backfield, the ground game has been merely average, and only two teams carry a worse expected points added figure in the passing game.

Historically, the offense has performed at a top-three level with Johnson in the lineup and fallen into the bottom tier when he is absent. His retirement therefore arrives at the worst possible time, just days after the unit produced one of the ugliest outings in team history on third down. In a 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Eagles failed to convert a single third down, going 0-for-12 and blowing a 10-point lead in the final minutes.

Personnel issues extend beyond right tackle. Jalen Hurts’ limitations have become more apparent, and the departure of A.J. Brown in a trade to the New England Patriots has left a void in the passing attack. Previous offensive coordinators Kellen Moore and Shane Steichen were able to design schemes that masked those shortcomings. First-year coordinator Sean Mannion has yet to find similar answers, and Sirianni must own the fact that only two of his three OC hires have panned out so far.

Injury pileup and discipline concerns raise the degree of difficulty

Injuries have stripped the roster of many of its top contributors. Against the Rams, Barkley went down with a hamstring issue. DeVonta Smith was already sidelined by a hamstring injury, Dallas Goedert missed the game with a sprained MCL, and guard Landon Dickerson remained on injured reserve with a bone bruise in his knee. Fellow guard Cam Jurgens entered the concussion protocol during the contest, while Johnson was inactive for personal reasons before choosing to walk away. On defense, key pieces such as linebackers Zack Baun and Jonathan Greenard, rookie corner Quinyon Mitchell and safety Marcus Epps were either unavailable or unable to finish, with other depth options like Hollywood Brown, Tank Bigsby and Fred Johnson also out.

The attrition has been compounded by self-inflicted wounds. Philadelphia has recorded 10 penalties in back-to-back games and sits at minus-three in turnover margin. If Sirianni is to stabilize the season, he must restore discipline while coordinating around a depleted lineup on both sides of the ball.

London test and three-game gauntlet could define Sirianni’s future

The schedule offers little relief. The Eagles’ next three opponents — the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys — all profile as playoff contenders. Philadelphia has already dropped consecutive games to teams of similar calibre, raising the stakes for this stretch, which may determine whether Sirianni gets to see a sixth year in charge.

First up is a trip to London to face Jacksonville, a franchise that has extensive experience playing overseas. Two weeks ago, the Eagles looked unprepared for Chicago Bears third-string quarterback Case Keenum, raising questions about game-planning and overall readiness. A repeat performance on the international stage would likely reflect poorly on Sirianni. If the Eagles can emerge from the next three games at 2-1 and sit above .500 after Week 7, they will give themselves a real chance to salvage the season. If not, the scrutiny on their head coach will only intensify.