Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65), defensive end Jalen Carter (98), offensive tackle Fred Johnson (74) and defensive end Brandon Graham (55) enter the field prior to game against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Two sorely missed team leaders should return to the Eagles' starting lineup Sunday.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and right tackle Lane Johnson are expected back in time to play against the Buffalo Bills Sunday.
Reinforcements on the way: Eagles DT Jalen Carter (shoulders) and OT Lane Johnson (foot), both are expected back next week in time to play against the Buffalo Bills, per sources.
Both returns are great news for an Eagles team scrambling to get back on track heading into the playoffs. Since their Week 9 bye, the Birds are 4-3, but that three-game losing streak struck fear deep into the heart of the Delaware Valley.
Johnson hasn't played since suffering a Lisfranc sprain on Nov. 16 against the Green Bay Packers. At the time, he was projected to miss 4-6 weeks. If Johnson does indeed return against the Bills, he will have missed six games.
The Eagles went 3-3 in those six games without Johnson. In his absence, Fred Johnson has been alright, but he had a subpar game against the Washington Commanders. His two penalties both came on goal-to-go downs, and one of them wiped a Jahan Dotson touchdown off the board.
Lane Johnson will bring some continuity back to an inconsistent offensive line, and his return will also expand the playbook. Before Johnson's injury, the Eagles regularly found success by using jumbo O-line packages, putting Fred Johnson on the field as the sixth offensive lineman. However, with Fred Johnson starting, those packages have been few and far between. Expect to see more of them now that Lane Johnson has returned.
While Johnson is shoring up a shaky offensive line, Carter returns to a defense that has played lights out in his absence. The Eagles' star defensive tackle underwent mysterious procedures on both shoulders on Dec. 2 and has missed the three games since.
Even without their best defensive lineman, Vic Fangio's defense kept on rolling. Against the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders and Commanders, the Eagles generated five turnovers, allowed just 190 yards per game, and pitched the team's first shutout since 2018. Jordan Davis in particular stepped up, making his presence known in all aspects of the game.
Carter elected to have those shoulder procedures in December so he could be as close to 100% as possible for the playoffs. Now he'll return to an Eagles team that has already clinched the NFC East title for the second year in a row, and to a strong Eagles defense that will only get stronger with Carter back in the trenches.
