Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift has been having a successful first season with the team, rushing for 988 yards heading into Week 17’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. As he approaches the 1,000-yard rushing mark, he has only scored five touchdowns so far this season.

One of the reasons for the low touchdown count is the Eagles’ reliance on a signature play when they are close to the end zone. This controversial play, known as the “Tush Push” or the “Brotherly Shove”, has been highly effective for the Eagles over the past two years. This reliance on a particular play has limited Swift’s scoring opportunities, despite being instrumental in gaining yardage for the team. The Eagles’ quarterback, Jalen Hurts, was able to set a new single-season rushing touchdown record for quarterbacks with the help of this play in a recent game against the New York Giants.

For instance, Swift’s 12-yard run put the Eagles in scoring position in last week’s game against the Giants. However, it was Hurts who was able to capitalize on the play and scored the record-breaking touchdown. These situations have left Swift with limited opportunities to score, even when he has set up the team for a touchdown. The success of the play has led to the Eagles continuing to rely on it, without the need to change their approach unless faced with effective counter-strategies from opposing teams.

The Eagles’ center, Jason Kelce, acknowledged the limitations that the play has imposed on Swift’s scoring opportunities in a recent interview. He expressed his empathy for Swift, stating that every time Swift is stopped just short of the end zone, he feels sorry for him, knowing that the team will rely on the same play to attempt to score. Despite these limitations, Swift was able to rush for a five-yard touchdown in last week’s game, delivering a crucial lead for the Eagles.

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While Swift’s touchdown count may not be high, his overall contribution to the team has been significant. The trade that brought him to the Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2025 and a swap of seventh-round picks in 2023 has proven to be mutually beneficial for both Swift and the team.

Swift is set to become a free agent in the upcoming offseason, raising the possibility that he may only spend one season with the Eagles. However, given that he has had a relatively low number of carries in his first four NFL seasons (580), it might be in the best interest of both parties to consider a contract extension to keep him in Philadelphia beyond 2023.