There aren't a lot of offensive linemen who can make the kind of impact that Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson does, but it's noticeable when he's off the field.
Johnson has been sidelined over the past two months with a foot injury he suffered against the Detroit Lions in November. While he missed the last part of the season, he is finally practicing for the first time and is working his way back into the starting lineup for the NFC Wild Card game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Reporters asked Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni about Johnson. While Sirianni did not share whether Johnson will play in the Wild Card game, he did acknowledge the impact he has on the team.
"Lane's a big difference maker, and I know he is working crazy to get himself back, and we will see where that is this week," Sirianni said via The Athletic's Zach Berman. "But he's a difference maker. ...He’s one of the best that's ever done it. I think I kind of get too much into scheme with that. But yeah, he allows you to do some different things.
"There's a reason he's going to be in the Eagles Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's one of the best ever to do at that position, and he shows that year in out. I've been with him for five years, and it feels like he just keeps getting better and better, which is a testament to Lane and how he takes care of his body and how he trains and how he mentally approaches this game of football that he loves. Man, I could go on all day about him."
When Johnson returns, the Eagles' offense will be rolling strong
Just to hammer home the point that Johnson is an impact player for the Eagles, on 262 pass-blocking snaps, he has allowed zero quarterback hits and zero sacks. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and has been named an All-Pro two times. Adding in the two Super Bowl titles with the Eagles, and yes, Johnson is a Hall of Famer.
This shouldn't discredit what Fred Johnson has done in replacing Lane, as he deserves a ton of credit for his work. Fred Johnson has shown himself to be able to play any of the lineman positions on the team and saved the Eagles a few times, including coming in for Lane in the 33-26 win over the Los Angeles Rams to help the team after Matt Pryor struggled.
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The reality is Lane Johnson will go down as one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history, and he needs to be in the starting lineup for the Eagles as soon as possible. His impact and play can make or break a Super Bowl run for the Birds.