Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is never one to hold back when it comes to expressing confidence in both his play and his team's play.
Heading into his seventh season, it doesn't look like that is going to change anytime soon.
Speaking recently on The Zach Gelb Show, Johnson made it very clear he very much believes this season should end in a Super Bowl for the Eagles.
"Most definitely. That's the goal," Johnson said. "A lot of people say that, but do they really believe it? I think we believe it."
Johnson is right about two things. Every team might say their goal is the Super Bowl, but very few can view it as realistic. The Eagles are without question one of those teams, as top personnel executive Howie Roseman has put together one of the best rosters in the NFL.
How far the Eagles are able to go this season could come down to just one thing, according to Johnson.
"Even as bad as last year got, if you turn the table and lose your starting quarterback, lose half of their secondary – if not all of their secondary – we'll see what they'll do," Johnson said. "It's a testament to our will to win. I think our will is there. It's just, with every season, you have to have luck with injuries. That's really it."
The Eagles have been bit hard by the injury bug over the last two seasons, but despite so many players missing key games, they have been able to win four games in the postseason and one Super Bowl. A big reason they were able to overcome the numerous injuries they suffered was backup quarterback Nick Foles, who stepped in each of the last two seasons for quarterback Carson Wentz and not only kept the team rolling, but won in the playoffs. Now that Foles is in Jacksonville, the Eagles would have to turn to backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who has almost no real playing experience in the NFL.
The good news for the Eagles is that Wentz appears to be fully healthy now, and has looked great so far in OTA practices.
If he can stay healthy, and the Eagles can stay relatively healthy, Johnson is right -- the expectation for the Eagles should be ending this season with a Super Bowl win.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
