Another valuable player lost to injury. Philadelphia Eagles’ right tackle Lane Johnson announces season ending surgery today [Friday], planning to come back next season stronger.
THE INJURY THAT KEEPS GIVING
Johnson’s ankle injury began two years back in 2018 during a game with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, England. It was further injured in 2019 when the Eagles played the New York Giants. He states, “…those two injuries kind of snowballed into this. The two bones were separated, so the ligaments were damaged or loose”.
The right tackle underwent tightrope surgery in late August; however, his ankle strength suffered. He missed the Eagles’ season opener against the Washington Football Team. He also missed Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens and Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson has had his ankle drained multiple times throughout the season, now stating that a stress fracture has formed.
“It’s like the inside of my ankle collapsed, so a lot of my power and my push-off that I normally have isn’t there,” Johnson stated. “It’s been damaged for some time, and [I’ve been] trying to go through it as much as I could, but I kind of knew that this would be a difficult process to try and play. Like I said, we were making really good progress at times, and then…football’s football. It is what it is. Things happen, and that’s where I’m at”.
The surgery will consist of deltoid ligament repair and will require four to five months of recovery.
SINCE DAY ONE
Lane Johnson has played his entire eight-year career in Philadelphia, as the third offensive tackle selected in 2013. He quickly rose to success and was ranked the tenth best right tackle in 2015 by Pro Football Focus.
In 2016, he signed a six-year, $63 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL.
He was ranked top right tackle and made his first Pro Bowl in 2017; however, he did not attend as he played in Super Bowl LII instead.
Johnson signed another four-year, $72 million contract extension in 2019, now making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
He played and started in seven games this season with 404 snaps.
Jack Driscoll has been Johnson’s relief; however, Driscoll is now dealing with a knee injury. He was listed as limited in practice this week. He now expects Matt Pryor to take over for him at right tackle.
Aside Pryor, the Eagles are expected to start Jason Peters (right guard), Jason Kelce (center), Isaac Seumalo (left guard), and Jordan Mailata (left tackle).
PLANNING AHEAD
Johnson’s goal is now to put his injury behind him and focus on getting healthy.
He states, “It’s been frustrating, but I just want to get back 100 percent and not think about it, play ball and move on from there, which has been difficult for me this year”.
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) November 27, 2020
The Philadelphia Eagles offensive line has struggled this season, placing more stress on the team going into the next few weeks without Johnson in the line-up, but hopefully, the future is bright. Johnson states he’s seen players come back from far worse.
“So, if I need any inspiration or guys to look to around here, to people who have gone through things in the past and recover, there’s guys here in the locker room to look up to.”
The Eagles will host the Seattle Seahawks for Monday Night Football at 8:15 pm, starting their tenth offensive line combination. The Eagles are 3-6-1, taking second place in the NFC East behind Washington, who is now 4-7 after their win to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.
Well wishes and a speedy recovery for Lane. Let’s hope the Eagles can keep it together after enduring another season loss.