Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni Gives No Update on Lane Johnson as Injuries Mount Before London Game
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said Monday there was no update on right tackle Lane Johnson, who missed Sunday's loss to the Rams for personal reasons, as the 2-2 Eagles deal with injuries to Saquon Barkley, Quinyon Mitchell and others before facing Jacksonville in London.
The Philadelphia Eagles will head to London this week with major questions about who will be available. Coach Nick Sirianni said Monday there was “no update” on whether right tackle Lane Johnson would rejoin the team, a day after the six-time Pro Bowl lineman was a surprise inactive for personal reasons in a 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to USA TODAY.
Johnson’s absence was felt immediately. Philadelphia managed 172 yards of total offense, its lowest total since 2014, and did not convert any of its 12 third-down attempts, according to USA TODAY. Left tackle Jordan Mailata said he learned Johnson would miss the game only after arriving at the stadium that morning.
Barkley, Mitchell and Greenard among the injured
The Eagles also lost three players during the game: running back Saquon Barkley with a hamstring injury, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with a knee injury and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard with an ankle injury, the Delaware News Journal reported. Sirianni said the team would likely know more by Oct. 7 about Barkley’s status for the Jacksonville game and added that Barkley would do everything he could to return.
Mitchell, a first-team All-Pro who has 19 tackles and two passes defended this season, left after tackling Rams running back Blake Corum in the third quarter and was replaced by Jonathan Jones. Greenard’s ankle injury was described as day-to-day, according to NFL Network reporting cited by the Delaware News Journal. Backup running back Tank Bigsby also left late with a knee injury.
A 2-2 team searching for its identity
Philadelphia was already missing wide receiver DeVonta Smith, linebacker Zack Baun and tight end Dallas Goedert before Sunday’s game, and the defense surrendered a 20-10 lead in the final minutes. The Eagles are 2-2 and face the 3-1 Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Sirianni said the team is still answering identity questions but would not use injuries as an excuse, saying every team deals with players moving in and out of the lineup.
Reporting based on coverage by USA TODAY and the Delaware News Journal.
