> At a Glance
> – Nick Sirianni sat most starters in Week 18
> – Eagles lost 24-17 to Washington
> – Philadelphia locked into No. 5 seed and will face San Francisco in wild-card round
> – Why it matters: Birds exit Week 18 relatively healthy and rested after limiting key players’ snaps
Nick Sirianni opted to protect his regulars against Washington in the meaningless finale, trading a shot at the NFC’s No. 2 seed for rest heading into the postseason. The Eagles fell 24-17, but they’ll take a full-strength roster into next Sunday’s wild-card showdown with the 49ers.
Inactive & Held-Out Stars
Seven players were ruled out, including Lane Johnson, Dallas Goedert, Jalen Carter, and rookie LB Nakobe Dean. Ten others dressed but watched from the sideline once the game began, among them Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley, and top corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
Snap Counts on Offense
Third-string QB Tanner McKee quarterbacked all 64 snaps. The makeshift line featured three iron-men-Fred Johnson, Matt Pryor and rookie Drew Kendall-each playing 100 percent of the snaps. Second-year RT Tyler Steen logged 28 snaps before exiting.
- Tank Bigsby took 38 snaps, rushing 16 times for 75 yards and a TD plus a career-long 31-yard reception
- Will Shipley added 26 snaps; A.J. Dillon appeared for 2
- DeVonta Smith needed only 9 snaps to eclipse 1,000 yards for the season; Jahan Dotson paced wideouts with 60
Snap Counts on Defense
Four defenders never left the field: rookie LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., CBs Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett, and S Sydney Brown.
The depleted front rotated liberally:
| Position | Player | Snaps |
|---|---|---|
| DT | Byron Young | 54 |
| DT | Ty Robinson | 51 |
| DT | Moro Ojomo | 35 |
| DT | Jordan Davis | 34 |
| Edge | Josh Uche | 40 |
| Edge | Jalyx Hunt | 36 |
| Edge | Nolan Smith | 34 |
| Edge | Brandon Graham | 28 |
Michael Carter II manned the slot for 65 of 69 snaps.
Key Takeaways
- Sirianni prioritized health over seeding, accepting a loss that drops Philadelphia to the fifth seed
- McKee’s full-game audition produced mixed results in his first extensive NFL action
- Several projected playoff starters finished the afternoon with zero snaps, achieving the staff’s rest goal
- Defensive line depth gained valuable reps ahead of the wild-card round
The Eagles now turn their attention to San Francisco, hopeful the Week 18 breather translates into a healthier, sharper performance next Sunday.
