END OF AN ERA? Eagles’ Lane Johnson: ‘Probably my last year’
Iconic right tackle plans to retire after this season
Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/4y342z7b
Originally published Aug. 8, 2026
PHILADELPHIA — Lane Johnson has spent 13 years keeping pass rushers away from Eagles quarterbacks. Now the calendar is coming for him, and even Johnson knows that Father Time is one opponent nobody blocks forever.
The 36-year-old right tackle said Saturday that this season will “probably” be his last.
“As you get older, things change in your life,” he said. “Your children get older. Your parents get older. Just to put this thing into perspective, it’s looking like this is probably, potentially, going to be my last year. Just because I am getting to that point of those priorities away from football are starting to merge. Not that I don’t enjoy this.
“I love everything about this game and preparing for it, but that’s kind of where I’m at in my career.
“I’m just looking forward to this year, playing the best I can, staying healthy, and that’s about it.”
Johnson returned to practice Friday after missing four sessions for personal reasons. He said Saturday the absence involved family matters, including helping care for his parents.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2013 draft has played his entire career in Philadelphia. He has won two Super Bowls, made six Pro Bowls and earned five All-Pro selections, including two first-team honors. He enters his 14th season with 168 games played (ninth in franchise history).
Johnson is under contract through 2027, but he sounded like a man looking at 2026 through a different lens.
“I’ve had those conversations with family members, and you can’t play forever. Not everybody can do what LeBron James is doing,” Johnson said, referencing the Sixers’ recent acquisition. “As my kids get older, my parents are getting older, you start seeing the circle of life, if you will.”
Last season ended early for Johnson. A Lisfranc injury limited him to 10 games and forced him to miss the stretch run and the Eagles’ wild-card game against San Francisco, which they lost. He said he didn’t want to go out that way.
But his body has taken the hint. So, apparently, has Johnson.
The tush push lives
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is changing plenty about the Eagles’ offense, but not everything.
Asked Saturday about his stance on the tush push — which the Eagles simply call a QB sneak — Mannion left little mystery.
“It’s going to be a part of what we do,” Mannion said. “It’s been an extremely effective play here, and we’re going to lean into that. It’s something that this organization has executed at a high level. So along with many other elements to our offense, certainly it’s something that will be a part of it.”
The play has become less automatic. From 2022 through 2024, the Eagles converted roughly 85% of their quarterback sneaks for first downs or touchdowns. Their tush-push success rate fell to about 61% in 2025 by one accounting, while Pro Football Focus charted a 65.5% first-down rate.
DeFranco’s latest roster projections
Through just two weeks of training camp, many roster spots are already becoming clear. Obviously, lots could change before the Eagles’ Sept. 13 season opener, but here’s my view so far (in projected depth-chart order):
QB: Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee.
RB: Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Dameon Pierce.
OL: LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Lane Johnson. Others: Markel Bell, Fred Johnson, Drew Kendall.
TE: Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers. Other: Grant Calcaterra.
WR: DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Darius Cooper, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown.
DT: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young.
EDGE: Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie. Other: A.J. Epenesa.
ILB: Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Chance Campbell.
CB: Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, Cooper DeJean.
S: Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, DeJean.
K/P: Jake Elliott, Braden Mann.
A secondary look
If the season began today, Mukuba would start at free safety with Epps solidified at strong safety.
All-Pro nickel DeJean is likely to contribute at strong safety in base packages, replacing Epps. Carter II is making his all-around value known at safety, slot and dime corner. The Eagles need him.
Still hoping to land a role in the secondary are J.T. Gray, Andre’ Sam and Cole Wisniewski.
Woolen is clearly the Eagles’ second outside cornerback, opposite Mitchell. Carter II could occasionally rotate in for him or Mitchell. Depth corners right now are Jonathan Jones and Kelee Ringo.
Injury report
OUT: WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), WR Makai Lemon (hamstring), WR Britain Covey (hamstring), Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle), S Wisniewski (hamstring) and Danny Grey (concussion). LIMITED: ILB Chance Campbell (groin).
Center Cam Jurgens was back on the field after leaving practice a day earlier.
Camp notes
● Practice was moved up 30 minutes to try mitigating the heat.
● Andy Dalton got second-team QB reps ahead of Tanner McKee.
● Mannion said Lemon has stayed engaged in meetings and walkthroughs despite being sidelined.
● Phillies ace Zach Wheeler and his family visited camp Saturday.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.