The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into the offseason with clear priorities, and fixing their run game sits near the top of that list. In 2025, the Eagles managed just 1,908 rushing yards, a steep drop from their 3,048 rushing yards tally in 2024. But while it could be attributed to several factors, Eagles’ offensive tackle Lane Johnson just pointed to one issue that derailed the rushing attack.

“I think when it goes down to it, if you look at it, loading the box up, there are miscommunication issues,” Lane Johnson said recently on Jon Gruden’s Barstool podcast. “Whether it’s old lineman, if it’s at running back, not hearing it, I feel like we had a lot of inefficient runs, and so people unaccounted for, which is unacceptable. It’s like coaches can coach all they want, but at a certain point, people know what football is.”

“And that’s something we’ve got to fix as a line,” Johnson added. “So, it was definitely frustrating going from what seemed like every play was a roller coaster to – it was gritty. Those yards came hard for shape.”

During the 2024 season, running back Saquon Barkley led the charge with 2,005 yards on the ground, and the Eagles boasted a dominant rushing attack. But in 2025, while the Eagles’ rushing game declined, it was not simply about former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo calling fewer runs. 

After the season ended, other NFL teams certainly studied the Eagles’ run game and came prepared. At the same time, while the 2025 season rolled in, injuries and changes along the offensive line disrupted the Eagles’ run game. Lane Johnson himself was sidelined for a long time last season due to an ankle injury. Now, Johnson also revealed that the Eagles’ offense had to deal with miscommunications on top of all that. 

So, even though Saquon Barkley averaged 4.1 yards per carry last season to anchor the Eagles’ run game, negative plays and stalled drives became far too common. The Eagles’ total rushing attempts dropped from 621 to 459, and their explosive runs of 10-plus yards fell by over 30%. Eagles’ dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts’ reduced involvement on the ground also played a role in that dip.

Last season, Hurts recorded just 421 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground, logging only 105 attempts, which was 45 fewer than in the 2024 season. While it could’ve been a strategic move to keep the QB healthy throughout the season, Hurts had suggested back in January that Kevin Patullo had other plans.

“The season has just gone the way it is,” Jalen Hurts said during a press conference on January 7. “The approach this year, and the way the games have been called with this coordinator, with coach KP, it’s just kind of gone that way. I’ve taken it in stride and giving my best with the position they’ve put me in.”

To be fair, the plan to shift away from the run game did bring some benefits to the Eagles’ players. Last season, Hurts recorded a career-high 25 passing TDs, and both receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown crossed the 1,000-yard passing mark. But at times, the Eagles’ offense also looked predictable. 

Without the Eagles having a consistent run threat last season, defenses didn’t have to guess, and that lack of balance showed on the scoreboard. The Eagles failed to score more than 20 points in 9 of their 17 regular-season games. Even in the NFC Wild Card round, they struggled to score, falling 23-19 to the San Francisco 49ers.

Still, the encouraging part is that the Eagles can kick-start their run game again with Hurts and Barkley staying with the team for the 2026 season. At the same time, the Eagles also hired Sean Mannion to replace Patullo for a change, and Lane Johnson looks excited to play under the new OC.

Lane Johnson confirms his return to Philly for his 14th season

Questions surrounded Lane Johnson’s future after a Lisfranc injury sidelined him for eight games late last season. While Johnson also turned 35, it was also expected that he could retire rather than play a 14th season in the NFL. But last month, Johnson confirmed his return through a social media post with a photo of himself running out of the tunnel in his Eagles uniform.

“🦅😤,” Johnson wrote in the caption of his IG post.

Since being drafted in 2013, Johnson has been a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s success, helping the team win two Super Bowl titles. Now, Lane Johnson returns to a team entering a new phase under OC Sean Mannion, who is expected to borrow elements from Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan’s schemes, known for creating space and simplifying reads for linemen. And Johnson looks excited to be a part of that shift.

“I’m excited about this new system,” Johnson said recently on the Fitz & Whit podcast. “I think it has some Shanahan implements in it. And I think it will be maybe easier on the edge for Jordan [Mailata] and I. So maybe not as much isolation.”

If Johnson’s vision translates onto the field, the Eagles could rediscover their offensive identity. But Johnson’s presence alone changes the dynamics of the Eagles’ offensive line, and the team’s 8-2 record with him last season compared to 3-5 without him only reinforces that. Therefore, Johnson’s return gives the Eagles’ offense some stability while they look to work on a new system under a new OC in 2026.