Lane Johnson’s importance to the Philadelphia Eagles can’t just be explained in dollars and senses. The star right tackle is the engine that makes the train run and during a Week 1 loss to Washington, the lack of Johnson’s presence at right tackle was glaring as Carson Wentz was sacked 8 times by the Football Team’s stout front line.
Johnson returned in Week 2 with a hurt ankle and played a huge role in the Eagles holding Aaron Donald sackless in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked the highest-graded offensive linemen in the NFL through Week 3, and Johnson landed on the list despite missing a game.
4. T LANE JOHNSON, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
It’s probably safe to say the Eagles missed Johnson in Week 1 against Washington. He has been one of the best tackles in the NFL for some time now, and he looked like it again in his first game of the season against the Rams in Week 2. He did not allow a pressure on any of his 42 pass-blocking snaps — losing only one pass-blocking rep overall — and he put up a run-blocking grade over 90.0 in his return to action.The Eagles have been disappointing through the first two games, but a healthy Johnson on the field helps this offense. Now, it comes down to Carson Wentz to turn around his league-worst play this season before the Eagles find themselves out of playoff contention.
With Johnson’s return, the right side of the Eagles offensive line was stabilized and Nate Herbig looked much improved in his second start at right guard.