Eagles’ Lane Johnson, Jalen Carter will miss game against Commanders
Both players have been nursing injuries
From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/6h47v5jy
PHILADELPHIA — Six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson was hoping to return from his foot injury this week, but he has been ruled out for the Eagles’ game Saturday at Washington.
“Every case you think through differently, individually, and you never put anything past Lane,” coach Nick Sirianni said Thursday when asked why the team hadn’t placed Johnson on IR. “At the end of the day, we’ll do what’s best for Lane and what the doctors feel like is best for Lane of when he plays and everything like that.”
Also out is All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders), who is listed as week-to-week but wants to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs. He underwent surgery on both shoulders Dec. 1. Carter has 32 combined tackles, two sacks, 36 QB pressures, 26 hurries and five pass deflections in 10 games this season.
Neither he nor Johnson practiced this week.
This is the fifth straight game Johnson will miss. He last played against Detroit Nov. 16. He was expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a Lisfranc injury, which involves damage to ligaments and bones in the middle of the foot.
Fred Johnson, who has been nursing an ankle injury but played last week, is likely to see most of the snaps in place of Lane. The defense, meanwhile, has stepped up in Carter’s absence, putting up a combined 10 sacks over the last two games against the Raiders and Chargers.
The Commanders (4-10) have been ravaged by injuries. Quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has been shut down for the season, and former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz suffered a torn ACL on Dec. 7.
With a win Saturday, the Eagles (9-5) would become the first repeat champions of the NFC East since they did it in 2004 under Andy Reid.
“It’s just the next game and we know it’s an opportunity to win the division, and as my dad used to always say, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Sirianni said. “I’m excited to be able to go out and play football, to coach football, and it’s an opportunity for us to get better against a well-respected opponent.”
Game status at Commanders: OUT – DT Carter (shoulders), RT Johnson (foot). QUESTIONABLE – TE Cameron Latu (stinger), T Cameron Williams (shoulder).
Thursday practice report: DNP – DT Carter (shoulders), RT Johnson (foot). FULL – RB Saquon Barkley (stinger), LB Zack Baun (hand), RB Tank Bigsby (illness), LG Landon Dickerson (calf/rest), T Fred Johnson (ankle), OLB Jaelan Phillips (knee), TE Latu (stinger), T Cameron Williams (shoulder).
—
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.