Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson finds himself in a precarious situation as he heads into the pivotal wild-card round against the 49ers, labeled a game-time decision due to lingering issues from a Lisfranc sprain in his foot. According to a league source, Johnson will be crucially missed if he cannot take the field, as he has been sidelined for the past seven games. His practice participation this week was limited, and he has officially been designated as questionable for the matchup on Sunday.
On the eve of the game, swelling in Johnson’s foot was reported, further complicating his availability. While his replacement, Fred Johnson, has stepped in admirably during his absence, the return of Lane Johnson would undeniably bolster the Eagles’ chances. This season, the Eagles posted an impressive 8-2 record with Johnson actively playing, in stark contrast to a 3-4 record without him. The statistics tell a broader story as well; since Johnson joined the team in 2016, the Eagles have a remarkable 94-41-1 record with him compared to just 15-27 without him.
At 35 years old and in the 13th year of his NFL career, Johnson has shown remarkable performance, allowing only seven pressures and no sacks through the first ten games of this season, according to Pro Football Focus. The Eagles’ offensive line faces additional challenges as they announced that OL Brett Toth, previously listed as questionable due to a concussion, has been downgraded to out for the game. Toth has proven to be a versatile backup across both guard and center positions this season.
As the Eagles prepare for their playoff run, they remain in a relatively strong position health-wise, with the main absence being rookie safety Drew Mukuba, who has been out since suffering an ankle fracture in late November. With the playoffs on the horizon, the return of Lane Johnson would provide an essential boost to the team’s offensive line and overall morale.