Sports
Hurts-less Eagles’ skid reaches four games in 25-14 loss to Carolina
Carolina beat Philadelphia 25-14 on Sunday as Bryce Young threw two touchdown passes and Chuba Hubbard ran for 120 yards. The Eagles, missing Jalen Hurts and several other key players, have lost four straight for the first time since 2020.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ losing streak reached four games Sunday, as the Carolina Panthers took advantage of an injury-depleted lineup to win 25-14 in Philadelphia.
Bryce Young threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, both to tight end Tommy Tremble, while running back Chuba Hubbard gained 120 yards and scored. Carolina improved to 3-2; Philadelphia fell to 2-4.
The Eagles were without quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is on injured reserve with a blood clot in his calf and is expected to miss at least four games. Running back Saquon Barkley also sat out with a hamstring injury, as did backup running backs Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby.
Tanner McKee made his third career start in place of Hurts, completing 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. His 19-yard scoring pass to DeVonta Smith — back after missing two games with a hamstring injury — cut Carolina’s lead to 19-14 early in the fourth quarter.
But Philadelphia could not build on the score. After forcing a Carolina punt, the Eagles’ next drive ended when McKee lost 12 yards on a fumble. Young then sealed the win with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tremble, making it 25-14.
“We’ve got to get them fixed,” McKee said of offensive miscues, including players being in the wrong position and missed calls.
The Eagles’ offense started slowly, producing 37 yards in the first quarter and punting on its first five drives. Philadelphia was held scoreless in the third quarter and has scored just six points in that quarter all season. Dameon Pierce’s 2-yard run brought the Eagles within 10-7 by halftime.
Carolina pulled away with a fourth-quarter touchdown drive. Young converted a third-and-8 from his own 10 with a 32-yard pass to Jalen Coker, and Hubbard added a 19-yard run on fourth-and-1 before scoring from 2 yards out. The Panthers’ two-point try failed.
Carolina kicker Ryan Fitzgerald made field goals of 47 and 52 yards, though he missed an extra point. The Panthers were penalized 13 times for 149 yards. Coach Dave Canales said some penalties came as players tried too hard in certain situations.
Philadelphia also lost edge rusher Nolan Smith to a concussion after helmet-to-helmet contact with Hubbard. Running back Carson Steele injured a shoulder, and defensive tackle Jordan Davis hurt an ankle. Carolina linebacker Jaelan Phillips aggravated a hamstring injury, while linebacker Thomas Incoom suffered a calf injury.
The Eagles will host Dallas on Monday, Oct. 26. Carolina is scheduled to host Tampa Bay next Sunday.