The Philadelphia Eagles received a significant boost on Wednesday night when Landon Dickerson announced on Instagram that he'll be returning for his sixth NFL season. This news comes hot on the heels of Jeff McLane's report that Lane Johnson, a cornerstone of the Eagles' offensive line, will also be back for his 14th season in 2026.
Johnson, at 35, boasts a stellar career with six Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors, and two Super Bowl rings. His impact on the team is undeniable: the Eagles went 8-2 with him on the field this season, compared to 3-4 without him.
Over his time in Philadelphia, the team has a 94-41-1 record when he plays, versus 15-27 when he's absent.
The buzz around Johnson's return was quickly followed by McLane's report that Dickerson, despite a challenging, injury-riddled year, is also set to come back. At 27, Dickerson has battled through multiple injuries over his first five seasons, including knee and back issues in 2025.
His college career at Florida State and Alabama was marred by two torn ACLs and several significant ankle injuries, which saw him drop to the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite these setbacks, Dickerson has emerged as one of the league's premier left guards, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2022 to 2024 and securing a lucrative four-year, $84 million contract extension in 2024, with $50 million guaranteed.
The Eagles have also brought in Chris Kuper as their new offensive line coach. Kuper, who wasn't retained by the Vikings after a four-year stint, faced challenges in Minnesota, where the team ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons.
In 2025 alone, the Vikings cycled through 25 different offensive line combinations, according to Next Gen Stats. Now in Philadelphia, Kuper is tasked with revitalizing the Eagles' offensive line, aiming to restore it to its former glory as the NFL's top unit.