The Philadelphia Eagles received an unexpected offensive line boost this week with Willie Lampkin's return to practice from IR. For Philly fans who have forgotten, the lineman was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina. However, when the guard was a part of the final roster cuts, the Eagles stepped in and claimed him off waivers, placing him on IR only days after bringing in the needed depth. This makes the rookie's return all the more interesting as a possible boost to the depth chart.
Looking at the current depth options, it isn't out of the question that either Brett Toth or Matt Pryor is replaced. Neither player should consider their roster spot solidified based on how the season has gone. If there is one of these players who should consider themselves on the edge of the roster, it is probably Pryor.
Willie Lampkin Could Provide Surprise Shake-Up for Eagles' O-Line Depth
Toth has shown enough improvement to be considered a viable backup option, and his versatility (117 snaps at left guard, 90 at center this season) is very valuable. Pryor has struggled to see the field despite injuries. And while he's played multiple positions in his career as well, he's clearly miscast as a tackle and really only provides depth at the guard spots. If Lampkin can impress in practice over the next week, there is a real chance the rookie becomes a surprise piece of the Philly roster.
It is also completely possible that Lampkin becomes a practice squad piece or doesn't pan out as hoped. As an undrafted rookie who was cut by his first team, Lampkin will need to earn his way onto the roster. Poor play from Philly's depth pieces has opened the door to a roster change, but Lampkin must take the steps to walk through it.
And while the sample size on Lampkin is small, what we have seen from him has been very impressive. Pro Football Focus grades might not tell the full story, but they do provide some interesting context on the limited preseason action he was healthy for. And they gave Lampkin a stellar 94.1 overall grade in his debut, as well as an 81.7 grade in his limited pass blocking snaps in the only other game he played. Overall, that was good for an 81.9 grade in 49 preseason snaps played for the Rams.
For the Eagles, it is far easier to stick with known performers unless you're beyond confident you have a superior replacement. This puts incredible pressure on the rookie to find a way to fight his way onto a roster that remains one of, if not the most talented, in the league. But the door is more open than usual this year.
Star guard Landon Dickerson has been in and out of the lineup this season, offering Philly fans a close look at their backup options. The results have often been underwhelming. Consider how the Eagles' PFF blocking grades stack up compared to recent years:
Year | Pass Block Rank | Run Block Rank |
|---|---|---|
2021 | 3rd | 5th |
2022 | 1st | 3rd |
2023 | 1st | 3rd |
2024 | 6th | 4th |
2025 | 4th | 12th |
Lampkin was on IR due to a knee injury suffered in the second preseason game of the year with the Rams. That leaves him a total unknown, but also leaves room for hope that perhaps a surprise depth piece is returning at the perfect time to help the Eagles continue moving in the right direction to defend their Super Bowl title.