The Philadelphia Eagles strengthened their hold on the best record in the NFC on Sunday night when they defeated the Detroit Lions by a score of 16-9. While the victory is substantial in the race for playoff positioning down the stretch, it also came at the cost of offensive tackle Lane Johnson.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Johnson suffered a Lisfranc injury and is expected to be out for the next 4-to-6 weeks. While Johnson is seeking a second opinion on the injury and it is not expected to end his season, it puts the Eagles in an immediate bind ahead of next Sunday’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
With a game of musical chairs playing out before their eyes, it shuffles the deck along the offensive line and could make Willie Lampkin’s return from knee and ankle injuries more important in the coming weeks.
Willie Lampkin Can Be Swiss-Army Knife for Eagles Rebuilt Offensive Line
A UDFA out of North Carolina, Lampkin began his career with the Los Angeles Rams before his injury during the preseason led the team to waive him with an injury settlement. The Eagles swooped in and claimed Lampkin off waivers on Aug. 27, activated his practice window on Nov. 6, hoping to find a diamond in the rough along the offensive line.
An undersized guard at 5-foot-10 and 290 pounds, Lampkin did well in the preseason, posting an 81.9 grade and no pressures allowed on 16 pass blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Lampkin also drew praise from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who noted his “terrific balance, lateral quickness and agility” in his scouting guide, “The Beast.”
Lampkin may not be starting quality, but he can be an ace in the Eagles’ lineman shuffle. Fred Johnson replaced Lane Johnson after his injury on Sunday night, but it also shifted guard Matt Pryor to be his primary backup. While Brett Toth can also play tackle, he’ll likely be needed at guard with Pryor shifting to the outside.
This leaves Lampkin as the backup for Cam Jurgens, assuming he is activated in the coming days, and could give him more opportunities to pitch in.
Fans have also wondered if Lampkin’s athleticism could lead to some time in jumbo packages where Grant Calcaterra and Kylen Granson have struggled in clearing lanes for the running game. According to Eagles Pin Pull Network’s Shane Haff, Calcaterra has played in 234 offensive snaps this season but has just four catches for 40 yards. PFF also has been critical of Calcaterra’s run-blocking with a 57.7 run blocking grade on eight snaps this season, and The Philly Special’s Anthony DiBona noted that Calcaterra whiffed on a pair of key runs late in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions.
With everything Lampkin can do, it’s a silver lining for the Eagles even as they lose their franchise offensive tackle. It should help Philadelphia weather the storm and keep them toward the top of the NFC standings.