The Eagles are still in great hands with Lane Johnson as a leader.
For years, Lane Johnson has shared the spotlight with three other long-time Eagles vets, but with Brandon Graham officially retired, Johnson is the last (old) man standing. Already a leader in the locker room, Johnson will likely take another step up this season, and it’s a role he’s earned — and a role he’s finally getting a lot of credit for.
Ahead of his third season, Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith spoke to his teammates Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship on their podcast, ‘Exciting Mics,’ and pointed to Johnson for his development the past two years.
“Going against Lane Johnson — he’s the best offensive tackle in the league. Hands down. I wouldn’t be half of the rusher I am today without Lane.”
Smith was really appreciative of how Johnson helped him take the next steps, and specifically pointed to the joint practices from the 2024 training camp. Johnson was able to coach up Smith in real time since they weren’t going head-to-head.
“I started to learn a lot about pass rushes when we started doing those joint practices, and then Lane would come on our side and say, ‘Hey Nolan, look at this, this, this, and this.’ He’s teaching you the game as it goes.”
The defensive talent said that Johnson points things out and offers a lot of advice, so Smith has added a lot of tools in his belt over time thanks to Johnson’s help.
It’s not just current teammates giving Johnson the respect he deserves. After safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was traded by the Eagles this offseason, he made some comments about the team not winning another ring without him. He recently admitted, however, that he regrets his words, and explained that Lane Johnson, among the rest of the team, was owed an apology.
“I retract [those comments], and I won’t even say it because I played with those guys, and I know how they would feel, like, ‘Chauncey you trippin’.’
It’s a disrespect to Jalen Carter, A.J. Brown — I can name all those guys on that team. Lane Johnson. Respectfully, because Lane is my big vet, and Lane would tell me, ‘Hey, Chauncey, I got your back, but when you do too much, I don’t got your back.’ And, that’s one of those moments that’s too much, because it’s taking away from his career. He’s done it before me.”
Johnson clearly has a big presence in the Eagles locker room, and now that the Core 4 has dwindled down to one, it’s nice to know the team is still in very good and experienced hands.