Eagles Win Again But One Veteran Still Faces a Major Setback

 

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0 to start the season, and that’s the headline. But dig a little deeper into their hard-fought 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs-a rematch of Super Bowl LIX-and you’ll find a defense still sorting itself out, particularly in the secondary. And right now, Adoree' Jackson’s play is raising more questions than answers.

Jackson, brought in during the offseason to solidify the Eagles’ defensive backfield, has had a rough go through the first two weeks. After a rocky debut, his performance against Kansas City didn’t do much to calm concerns. He struggled in coverage again, and when you're going up against a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, any weakness is going to get exposed in a hurry.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t exactly give Jackson a ringing endorsement heading into Week 2, and the veteran corner's showing likely didn’t give him any more reason to commit moving forward. This isn’t just about one tough game-it’s about a pattern starting to take shape. And with the Los Angeles Rams up next, featuring dynamic receiving threats like Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, Philadelphia can’t afford to have liabilities on the outside.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson graded out with an overall score of 32.4 and a 33.6 in coverage following the Week 2 matchup. That’s not just below average-that’s a red flag. For a team with championship aspirations, those numbers simply don’t cut it, especially when matched against elite-level receivers.

The Eagles have high expectations this season, and rightfully so. The roster is stacked, the coaching staff is experienced, and the window to contend is wide open.

But to stay on track, they need to be firing on all cylinders-and that includes a secondary that can hold its own against the league’s best. Two games in, Jackson hasn’t been that guy.

If the defense is going to elevate to the level it needs to be, Fangio and the staff may have to make a tough call. Whether that means rotating in other corners, adjusting coverages, or even pulling Jackson from the starting lineup, something has to give. Because as it stands, the margin for error is razor thin, and every snap matters when you're chasing a Super Bowl.

The Eagles got the win. But if they want to keep stacking them, they’ll need more from their secondary-and that starts with cleaning up the issues that have plagued Jackson early on.