For what feels like forever, Eagles fans have been able to count on a few things — the team needing help at receiver, a backup quarterback controversy and outstanding offensive line play.
For now, those first two might actually be off the table for 2020.
The third one, however, seems like it is going to be a major issue.
While it isn't time to completely panic about the offensive line, and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland deserves the benefit of the doubt, it is definitely fair for fans to be concerned about the group that will be protecting Carson Wentz this season. An already complicated and questionable offensive line situation got even worse on Thursday when Andre Dillard suffered a season-ending bicep injury.
Now, with the season less than three weeks away, the Eagles offensive line is without question the biggest red flag on this team — and there isn't even a close second.
Here is a rundown of the major problems the line is facing:
Jason Peters and Lane Johnson: Peters is now back as the starting left tackle with Dillard sidelined. That should improve the line, as Peters is a better left tackle than Dillard is right now. According to Pro Football Focus, Peters was the fourth-best offensive tackle in all of football last season, and allowed only 21 pressures in 562 passing snaps last season. The issue is that Peters has not played more than 80% of the snaps on offense since 2016, and at 38-years old, it is fair to be concerned about him reaching 80% this season. Opposite Peters is Johnson, who is an elite-level player as well, but has missed five-straight practices with a lower-body injury. There should be legit worry around Johnson's health considering how much time he has missed. He will likely be ready for Week 1, but the Eagles are entering the season with heath concerns at both tackle spots.
The Depth: Part of the reason the health concerns at tackle are so big is the lack of depth at tackle. Halapoulivaati Vaitai isn't walking through that door. Behind Peters and Johnson the Eagles currently have Jordan Mailata, Prince Tega Wanogho, Julian Good-Jones and (maybe) Jack Driscoll. The group has a combined zero snaps in an NFL game. The Eagles could move Matt Pryor over to tackle if needed, but after losing Dillard and moving Peters to left tackle, Pryor is now their starting right guard. The depth is better at interior offensive line, but only slightly. The top backup to Jason Kelce is likely Issac Seumalo, but if they move Seumalo over, they would then have to count on Nate Herbig to step in, who has also never played an NFL snap. Herbig is also likely the top backup to Pryor and Seumalo at guard.
Even if the Eagles do sign a veteran offensive tackle, which they almost certainly will, this team is in major, major trouble if one of their starting offensive linemen goes down.
Matt Pryor: When Brandon Brooks went down with an Achilles injury, the Eagles initial plan seemed to be to start Pryor. The plan seemed like a good one, as Pryor has been coached up for two years and played well in the team's playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Now that Pryor is back as the starting right guard, the Eagles should have some cautious optimism that the will be able to play at a quality level as the starter. Still, Pryor is no sure thing and has never been a full-time NFL starter. Even though he is a solid backup plan to both Brooks and Peters, he is still a question mark. Plus, with Pryor now starting, the Eagles have lost their top backup at both tackle spots and both guard spots, putting more pressure on the other backup linemen on the roster.
Lack of Reps Together: The season is now 16 days away and the team's starting offensive line — Peters, Seumalo, Kelce, Pryor and Johnson — have taken zero reps together in a training camp practice. They will enter Week 1 having only a handful of practices together, and that is assuming Johnson returns to the practice field soon. There might not be another position in football where continuity matters more than it does on the offensive line. Stoutland has his work cut out for him to get his group of starters ready for Week 1.
Overall Poor Play: With so many injuries so far in camp, and so many players missing practice, the Eagles have had to shuffle guys in-and-out daily along the offensive line. The one constant, however, has been bad play. The Eagles offense has not looked good in training camp during 11-on-11 drills, with plays constantly being blown up in the backfield or Carson Wentz being "sacked" before he can even really run the play. The bottom line is this — none of the improvements the Eagles have made on offense are going to matter if the offensive line is an issue. No team can win consistently with a bad offensive line.
And if the Eagles offensive line plays in the regular season like it has in training camp, the team is going to have a tough time making it to the playoffs for the fourth-straight year.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
