Eagles Coach Sirianni Confirms Patullo Will Remain Play Caller

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed on Monday that offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo will continue to call plays for the team, dismissing speculation about a potential change. Sirianni emphasized the need for improvement across all areas of the game rather than placing blame on any single aspect.

“I haven’t considered that,” Sirianni stated during his press conference. “As coaches, we’re always looking for answers and we’re never into assigning blame. It’s every piece of the puzzle: coaching, playing, execution, scheme, everything. We’ve got to be better in all of those aspects.”

The Eagles faced a challenging outing against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, where they lost a lead of 21 points, ultimately falling 24-21. The team was unable to score after their early dominance, with their final eight possessions resulting in five punts, a missed field goal, a turnover, and a halt at the end of the first half.

Sirianni defended Patullo’s play-calling during the match, noting, “I thought Kevin did a good job of calling it. Obviously, he’s going to want plays back just like every player and myself.” He added that the team’s execution and play-calling were more effective in the first half than in the latter stages of the game.

Despite criticism suggesting the Eagles may have relaxed after establishing their lead, Sirianni maintained that the team remained aggressive throughout the game. “To go up 21-0… you’re trying to do everything you can to go up 28-0, 35-0. I felt like we were aggressive all game,” he said.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts echoed the sentiment, pointing out the need for the team to finish games and establish consistency. “Overarching, we’ve got to find a way to finish the game, and we’ve got to find some consistency in what we do,” he remarked. “Definitely a tale of two halves, but in the end, we didn’t play a complete game as a team, and it got us.”

Looking ahead, the Eagles will face the Chicago Bears on Friday, December 1, 2023. However, the team will be without rookie safety Andrew Mukuba, who suffered a fractured ankle during the game against the Cowboys and requires surgery. Sirianni indicated that Mukuba will be out for an undetermined period, stating, “He’ll be out for some time and we’ll see… We have good options there.”

The coach also highlighted the importance of having depth in the roster, mentioning players like Michael Carter II, Sydney Brown, and Reed Blankenship as viable options to step up in Mukuba’s absence. “It’s never just the 53 guys; it’s the 70 guys. You never know when those guys’ opportunity will come,” he added.

Additionally, the status of cornerback Adoree’ Jackson remains uncertain due to a concussion, while Blankenship is anticipated to play in the upcoming match. As the Eagles prepare for the Bears, they will aim to rectify their recent performance and regain momentum in the season.