Snap Counts: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs – Week 2

The Eagles’ Week 2 win over the Chiefs wasn’t just about the scoreboard. The snap counts tell you who this coaching staff trusts, who’s trending up, and who might be fighting to stay on the field.

Eagles’ defense clutches up to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead, 20-17

Eagles Offense

On offense, it was encouraging to see Landon Dickerson make it through the entire game after some bumps earlier this summer. AJ Brown barely came off the field, missing only two snaps, and led the team with eight targets, but his production was modest, with just five receptions for 27 yards.

Grant Calcaterra stepped in as the top tight end with Dallas Goedert sidelined, though he wasn’t a big factor until the Eagles’ penultimate drive. Saquon Barkley was once again the engine, logging 24 of the team’s 27 running back touches. Behind him, A.J. Dillon had a smaller role than rookie Will Shipley likely would’ve if healthy.

DeVonta Smith toughed it out after a hard landing on his back and still led the team with 53 receiving yards on four catches. The staff leaned heavily on tight ends and bigger packages, which left WR3 Jahan Dotson with a limited role.

Interestingly, undrafted rookie Darius Cooper played more snaps than John Metchie for the second straight week, even though he still hasn’t been targeted which shows that his his blocking is clearly valued.

Fred Johnson also checked in as a sixth offensive lineman late, and it immediately sprung a nine-yard Barkley run. That wrinkle makes more sense than relying on tight ends to block, and it could stick around.

Eagles Defense

On defense, Jalen Carter played through what looked like a wrist injury but didn’t miss time, continuing to anchor the line. Andrew Mukuba cemented himself as the safety in nickel packages, while Sydney Brown handled base looks.

Jordan Davis saw his workload drop from a massive 87 percent in Week 1 to 53 percent in this game, partly due to cramping but also because Carter’s return allowed for a more balanced rotation. Moro Ojomo went from an unsustainable 90 percent snap share down to 70, which is better for him long term.

The big defensive headline was Za’Darius Smith, who wasted no time making his presence felt in his Eagles debut. He jumped ahead of Josh Uche for the third edge rusher spot, finishing with four tackles, half a sack, and a tackle for loss.

Fangio leaned on a four-deep rotation at the position, with Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt both losing snaps and Patrick Johnson only sprinkled in as the fifth option. Adoree’ Jackson had a brief hand/wrist scare but returned, with Jakorian Bennett filling in temporarily.

Eagles Special Teams

On special teams, Marcus Epps logged another practice squad elevation, leaving him just one more before the Eagles must decide whether to sign him permanently.

Tank Bigsby lined up as a kick returner, but the Chiefs never kicked his way, and he didn’t see the field on offense. Rookie Ty Robinson managed four special teams snaps after being inactive in Week 1, showing at least a step forward in involvement.

Inactives

The inactive list was headlined by Dallas Goedert and Will Shipley, but neither injury is considered serious. Goedert could return in Week 3, while Shipley avoided IR and may be back within a few weeks.

Tanner McKee dressed as the emergency quarterback, though he seems to be trending toward the regular QB2 spot.

Drew Kendall, Azeez Ojulari, and Ogbo Okoronkwo were all healthy scratches, which raises questions about the Eagles carrying so many edge rushers. Mac McWilliams suited up but didn’t play a single snap, not even on special teams.

Game Notes:

Overall, the snap counts tell a few clear stories.

Za’Darius Smith looks like a real piece for this defense and adds much-needed depth to Fangio’s rotation. Barkley is the unquestioned bell cow, and the offense will run through him until Shipley is back.

The WR3 spot remains wide open, with Dotson, Metchie, and Cooper all failing to secure it. The coaching staff is leaning heavily on tight ends even without Goedert, which is curious, but adding Fred Johnson as a sixth lineman was a smart adjustment.

The roster is being tested early, yet depth pieces like Kemp, Smith, and now Za’Darius are already proving they can step in and contribute.

More from Eagles Week 2:

• Warning: Anti-Tush Push propaganda is going to be at an all-time high on Monday
• WATCH: Jalen Hurts embarrasses Chris Jones, tells him to ‘shut up’ while he cries during kneel down
• Kansas City Crybabies: Chiefs players throw hands, hissy fits during 20-17 loss to Eagles
• Dean Blandino is officially ‘done’ with the Tush Push and Eagles fans should love every second of it

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