Eagles RT Lane Johnson Remains Irreplaceable as Philly's RG Turnstile Continues
PHILADELPHIA – In back-to-back drafts, the Philadelphia Eagles have spent a second-round pick on a player they thought would replace the great Jason Kelce as the team’s center when he retires.
In 2021, it was Landon Dickerson. A need opened at left guard, Dickerson excelled there, and that is where he will stay.
In 2022, it was Cam Jurgens. A need has opened at right guard and Jurgens could eventually be there to stay, depending on a few still-to-be-determined factors.
All the while, Kelce plays on.
Meanwhile, the Eagles continue to let right tackle Lane Johnson do the same, with no replacement in sight, unless you count developing rookie Tyler Steen or Jack Driscoll.
More likely, the Eagles pivot away from finding Kelce’s replacement and look for Johnson’s replacement in the 2024 draft when they have a first-round pick and two second-round selections – their own and one that belonged to the New Orleans Saints.
Now 33 and about to begin his 11th NFL season, all with the Eagles, who drafted him fourth overall in 2013, Johnson is still irreplaceable.
There was a time when he thought he might become the left tackle to replace Jason Peters, but Peters never retired. He was on the Dallas Cowboys roster last season at age 41, though he is a free agent so far this year.
Johnson vacillates as to when his expiration date will be. During last season, he thought maybe two more years.
Earlier this spring, he said another four could be possible.
“At 37, that’d be pretty old, (but) then again, JP is 41, so I’m always chasing,” he said. “I’m super fortunate to be where I’m at. And being in the second half of my career, my goal now is to develop the younger guys and bring those guys along. And be a better leader.
"It’s crazy how fast time flies. It doesn’t feel like I’m in my 11th year, but here I am. You don’t realize how fast it goes. I’m very fortunate.”
Johnson would like to stay away from some of the physical injuries he’s battled the past couple of seasons, one of which was an ankle issue that retired two separate surgeries. Earlier this year, he had surgery for a torn adductor muscle.
He is back on track, though, and expected to be a full-go when training camp opens in late July.
“I’ve been cleared for a little bit now,” he said. “For the first couple of weeks were rough, but after that, it’s one of those rehabs that you have to progress pretty fast because they don’t want you to heal up stiff.
"Other than that, I feel like this is a lot easier than the ankle I had a few years ago. So, feeling good, moving good, and happy about where I’m at.”
Then there are the personal demons he battles, the anxiety and depression issues he’s wrestled with most of his life and cost him three games early in the 2021 season. Those too have been safely tucked into his past – at least for now because you never know when they could rise up again.
For now, another right guard will need to rise up in camp to play alongside him.
Jurgens is the front-runner to replace Isaac Seumalo who left for the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency and Brandon Brooks, who retired in January 2022.
“Everybody has their certain traits,” Johnson said about the recent turnstile next to him. “Brooks is so big and strong, and so efficient. No wasted steps. Isaac is a big guy, too. Just his quickness and his knowledge of the game was unbelievable. Having him and Kelce together was being able to diagnose defenses and make the correct calls in certain situations.
“Obviously, players are different and they have different styles. We’re not asking Cam to be Brooks or Isaac. Be your own guy. But I feel like, within the three guys, the traits they have are super-quick, athletic and those are the guys that Stout (O-line coach Jeff Stoutland) is looking for – guys that are explosive.
“I think with Cam, him being 6-3, he gets natural leverage on some of these taller guys. And his strength allows us to create some good movements (tell a lot more in training camp, once pads come on) … We still have a ways to go, but I’m excited where we’re at.”
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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