It's been over a month since Philadelphia Eagles fans have seen starting right tackle Lane Johnson on the field, but that wait finally ended.
Multiple Eagles reporters shared that Johnson was finally in uniform at practice and appeared to be stretching and spending time with the players on the field. This is a massive update, as it would be the first time since the Detroit Lions game in November that Johnson had any work on the field.
Haven’t seen Lane Johnson at practices during portion open to reporters in recent weeks. He’s in the back today, in uniform, helmet by his side. pic.twitter.com/utS8QIxYcx
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) January 2, 2026
The Eagles have had Johnson focus on rehabbing and improving his football. His original timeline was to return before the season, against either the Las Vegas Raiders or the Washington Commanders, but Philly ended up being super conservative with his rehab.
Lane Johnson moves one step closer to returning to the field
It's excellent news that Johnson is back, as he was doing well during the season. Despite the multiple times he left games early in the regular season, he was still putting up the best numbers of any Eagles lineman on the team.
According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson is the 18th-ranked tackle in the NFL with an overall grade of 77.4. He has allowed just seven quarterback pressures, zero quarterback hits, and zero sacks in 262 pass blocking snaps.
Since Johnson has been out, Fred Johnson has been filling in at right tackle, and he has done a good job replacing him. Fred Johnson has improved over the weeks and has played a key role in the Eagles' three-game winning streak.
The likelihood of Lane Johnson playing against the Washington Commanders is pretty much zero, as the starters are going to be resting for the Eagles. This news only means that his chances of returning for the NFC Wild Card are very high with him on the field.
Read more: Jordan Mailata ended biggest Eagles debate entering Week 18 against Commanders
Philly should be excited to see Johnson back on the field, as this is massive news right before the playoffs. Just one more week before the Eagles can get him back on the right side of the offensive line where he belongs.