The Philadelphia Eagles’ season has officially entered unfamiliar territory. Once viewed as one of the NFL’s most stable contenders, the reigning champions are now dealing with a three-game losing streak, a quarterback struggling through the toughest stretch of his career, and a roster shakeup that blindsided the fanbase less than a day after their overtime collapse in Los Angeles. The move came quietly, without press conferences or explanations — the Eagles released long snapper Cal Adomitis on Tuesday, ending his Philadelphia tenure after just nine games and adding another unexpected twist to a season that has suddenly tilted in the wrong direction.
Monday night’s 22–19 overtime loss to Justin Herbert and the Chargers was painful enough on its own. Jalen Hurts delivered one of the roughest performances of his professional career, completing 21 of 40 passes for 240 yards, no touchdowns, and a stunning four interceptions — including the game-ending pick in overtime that sealed the Eagles’ latest stumble. Once an MVP candidate, Hurts has looked anything but over the past three weeks, and Philadelphia’s offense has sputtered with uncharacteristic inconsistency. The defense kept them competitive, but it wasn’t enough to stop their slide in the NFC standings.
Amid the chaos, Adomitis’ release quickly emerged as the first roster consequence following the defeat. The 27-year-old long snapper had filled in admirably this season after veteran Charley Hughlett went on injured reserve with a core injury before Week 5. Adomitis handled 81 special-teams snaps and never appeared to be a weakness. But with Hughlett now eligible to return — and the Eagles desperate to stabilize any unit they can — the front office made the decision swiftly as they regroup for Week 15.
Head coach Nick Sirianni didn’t offer a formal comment on the roster move, but his postgame tone suggested a team searching for answers anywhere they can find them. “We’ve got to clean things up, all of us — coaches, players, top to bottom,” Sirianni said after the loss. “When you’re in a stretch like this, nothing you do is good enough. Every detail matters. Every snap matters.” Though he was addressing the team’s general struggles, the message resonated as Philadelphia’s first transaction of the week hit the wire. In a season unraveling faster than anyone anticipated, no role — not even long snapper — is immune to change.
There’s no denying that Adomitis was a casualty of timing rather than performance. Hughlett has been a trusted, steady presence for years, and with the Eagles’ margin for error shrinking by the week, the coaching staff appears determined to restore as much continuity as possible on special teams. But the abrupt nature of the release — coming just hours after a devastating loss — contributed to the growing sense that Philadelphia is tightening the screws across the roster as they try to stop the bleeding. At 8–5, the Eagles remain atop the NFC North, but their grip is weakening, especially with the red-hot Packers (9–3–1) surging into contention for playoff seeding.
Beyond the standings, the ripple effects of three straight losses have raised deeper concerns. The offense lacks rhythm. The turnovers are piling up. The protection is inconsistent. And for the first time all season, the reigning champs look unsettled, even vulnerable. Losing to the Chargers on the road isn’t catastrophic on its own — but dropping three straight, combined with Hurts’ four-interception night, has amplified the scrutiny. It doesn’t help that the Eagles lost ground to the Rams (10–3), who continue to play at a championship level behind a rejuvenated Matthew Stafford and an opportunistic defense.
While the release of a long snapper rarely tops headlines, this one arrives as a symbol of a team attempting to recalibrate on the fly. Philadelphia is still in strong playoff position, but they’re trending in the wrong direction, and disappointment has begun to seep into the fanbase. Adomitis now becomes an unrestricted free agent and should have multiple landing spots, considering his clean tenure on special teams and his time with both the Bengals and Eagles. For Philadelphia, the door now reopens for Hughlett to return to his starting role against Las Vegas.
Fortunately for the Eagles, Week 15 presents the perfect opportunity to stop the skid. The 2–11 Las Vegas Raiders come to Lincoln Financial Field, giving Philadelphia a chance to steady themselves against a struggling opponent and reclaim momentum. With kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. ET, the Eagles will attempt to restore confidence, limit turnovers, and rediscover the identity that made them the NFC’s most dominant force just one year ago. A win won’t erase the issues — but it might finally start to slow the unraveling.
