The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t been shy in playing with their fans’ emotions this season, and they made sure their regular-season finale wasn’t any different as they dropped a 24-17 game with the Washington Commanders.
The loss will have plenty of questions as the Eagles could have claimed the No. 2 seed in the playoffs after the Chicago Bears lost their Week 18 matchup with the Detroit Lions. But with head coach Nick Sirianni declaring he would rest his starters, it was a chance for several young players to make their mark, including cornerback Kelee Ringo.
Ringo fumbled an opportunity to be in the starting lineup at the beginning of the year, and his inconsistent play left him virtually mothballed for the second half of the season. When he was dusted off for 69 snaps on Sunday, the results weren’t ideal, leading to big consequences not only for the playoff run but also for where he’ll be playing in 2026.
Kelee Ringo’s Days in Philadelphia Are Numbered After Costly Mistake vs. Commanders
Ringo’s day wasn’t terrible from a statistical standpoint as he had just five total tackles and a tackle for loss. Pro Football Focus also gave him a decent line in coverage, allowing two catches for 39 yards with a pass breakup on four targets.
But it was the play that he didn’t make that drew the ire of Eagles fans. With the game tied at 17-17 with 2:32 left in the fourth quarter, Ringo had a clear shot to stop quarterback Josh Johnson on a scramble. Instead of pursuing Johnson for what could have been a game-saving tackle, Ringo ran in the opposite direction (h/t @JeffNadu), allowing Johnson to score the deciding touchdown.
The Eagles lost the game and their chance at the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Now, Ringo could be watching the Eagles’ push to defend their title from the sideline. But that’s just the immediate impact, as the play could have been the final straw in his Eagles tenure.
Philadelphia’s top two corners are set with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. While Adoree’ Jackson is a free agent, there’s a chance he could return to the team on a cheaper deal and likely has an easier path back than Ringo does, even though Ringo is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
The Eagles could get out of Ringo’s rookie deal and save $1.14 million with a cut or trade at any time in the offseason, according to Spotrac. But even if Philadelphia hangs on, there’s no chance that it doesn’t add competition for Ringo, especially after Sunday’s gaffe.
It’s a mistake that could not only jeopardize the Eagles’ run in the playoffs but also could leave Ringo looking for a new team as soon as next spring.