Lane Johnson’s absence was the notable wrinkle as the Eagles hit the fourth day of training camp, and it immediately gave the day a different feel.
Philadelphia had four players excused from practice: Jihaad Campbell, Ta’Quon Graham, Lane Johnson, and Elijah Moore. The team is also managing early injury issues with offensive tackle Cameron Williams, who is dealing with a knee injury, and safety Cole Wisniewski, who has a hamstring injury. But Johnson is the name that stands out because of what the Eagles went through with him last season.
That’s what makes even a single missed practice feel bigger than usual. Johnson missed the final eight games of the regular season and the playoffs after a foot injury, and he had already dealt with injuries earlier in the year, including in the Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams. So while one camp absence can be easy to shrug off, this one naturally raises questions.
At OTAs, Johnson looked healthy and ready to go for the 2026 season, and he also appeared fine early in training camp. That’s part of why this is not automatically a red flag. Still, it’s something worth watching closely as camp rolls on.
The Eagles may simply be taking a cautious approach with one of their most important players. Load management could become a real factor with the starting right tackle, especially given his age and the need to keep him on the field at all costs.
There’s also a possible benefit here for the roster behind him. Rookie Markel Bell is getting more reps, which is the same kind of opportunity he saw at OTAs. For the Eagles, that can only help with the future.
For now, though, the bigger storyline is whether Johnson’s absence is just a routine camp day off or the start of something more. The Eagles can’t afford to lose him again if they’re chasing a Super Bowl this season.
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