Eagles coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged that running back Kenneth Gainwell made an error by engaging with a negative comment on social media during halftime of Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders.
Sirianni emphasized that responding to direct messages from fans was not advisable, stating, “He should not have replied to that individual, be it a guy or a girl. We had a conversation with him about the importance of staying focused and not being distracted by external criticism. He is aware that he made a mistake by engaging with that person.”
During the second quarter, Gainwell, a third-year running back from Memphis, lost possession of the football at the Commanders’ 3-yard line. In the midst of the game, an exchange between Gainwell and a fan on social media went viral. The fan used profanity and advised Gainwell to “secure the football,” to which Gainwell responded, “Young man, don’t message me.”
In the Eagles’ 38-31 triumph, Gainwell concluded the game with 26 yards gained from seven carries. He is part of a running back rotation led by D’Andre Swift and has accumulated 153 rushing yards along with a touchdown for the season.
On Sunday, the Eagles were unfortunate enough to lose two fumbles within the 3-yard line, a rare occurrence that put them in the same category as the 2022 Denver Broncos as the only teams to have multiple fumbles inside the 3-yard line since 2000.
Sirianni expressed his support for Gainwell despite the fumble, mentioning an impressive run Gainwell had in the previous week’s game against Miami, underlining his continued faith in the team and in Gainwell’s abilities.
