Lane Johnson & Landon Dickerson Are Coming Back — But the Health Questions Aren't Going Away

If you're an Eagles fan, you woke up Thursday morning to exactly the kind of news you needed to hear. Lane Johnson is coming back for his 14th NFL season. Landon Dickerson, who flirted with the idea of walking away from the game entirely, has decided he's not done yet. Both offensive linemen will be back in midnight green for 2026.

Breathe. Exhale. Celebrate for about ten seconds. Now let's talk about reality.

Lane Johnson — One More Ride

Lane Johnson is 36 years old. Let's not sugarcoat that. He missed the final eight games of last season after limping off the field, and there was a very real question about whether he'd ever put on pads again. The fact that he's coming back says a lot about the competitor he is — he doesn't want his career to end with him watching from the sideline in street clothes.

But here's the thing: wanting to come back and being able to play at a high level are two different conversations. Lane Johnson at 80% is still better than most right tackles in this league. That's not hyperbole — that's the reality of how good he's been for over a decade. The question isn't whether he can contribute. It's whether his body will cooperate for 17 games.

The Eagles need to plan for the possibility that it won't. That's not being pessimistic — that's being smart. You don't get to be a 14-year veteran without the clock ticking louder every single snap. Lane knows it. The front office knows it. Every rep this spring matters.

Dickerson's Retirement Scare Was Real

Landon Dickerson is a different story. Most people assumed he'd be back, but earlier this offseason there was genuine concern that he might hang it up. Dickerson has battled injuries throughout his career — going all the way back to his college days at Alabama. The wear and tear on his body is significant, and nobody would have blamed him for walking away.

He didn't walk away. He's back. And that matters — because even with all the health concerns, Dickerson is a mauler in the run game and a tone-setter on that offensive line. When he's healthy and rolling, he's one of the most physical guards in football. The problem has always been the "when he's healthy" part.

Getting Dickerson back means the Eagles don't have to scramble for a starting guard this offseason. That's huge. It lets Howie Roseman focus draft capital and free agency dollars on the positions that truly need it — receiver, tight end, edge rusher. But it also means the Eagles are banking on a player whose body has let him down before. That's a calculated risk, and everyone in that building knows it.

The Stoutland Factor

Here's the part that doesn't get talked about enough: Jeff Stoutland is gone. The greatest offensive line coach in franchise history — arguably one of the greatest in NFL history — is no longer walking those hallways at the NovaCare Complex. That changes things.

For Lane Johnson, Stoutland was more than a coach. He was a confidant, a mentor, a guy who understood Lane's body and his limitations better than anyone. Stoutland knew when to push Lane and when to pull him back. That relationship developed over 11 years together. Chris Kuper, the new offensive line coach, doesn't have that institutional knowledge. He'll build his own relationship with Lane, but it won't happen overnight.

For Dickerson, the Stoutland departure might matter even more. We'll get into the scheme implications in a separate piece, but the short version is this: Kuper's outside zone system is not the same power-heavy scheme that Stoutland ran. And Dickerson, with his physical style and injury history, might be the worst fit on the line for what Kuper wants to do. That's not a death sentence, but it's a concern worth monitoring.

The Bottom Line

Both players returning is unquestionably good news. You want your best players on the field, and Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson are among the best the Eagles have. The offensive line was elite when healthy in 2024, and getting these two back means the foundation is still there.

But "when healthy" is doing a LOT of heavy lifting in that sentence. Lane is 36. Dickerson has a medical file thicker than the Yellow Pages. Stoutland — the guy who kept this unit humming through injuries and adversity — is coaching elsewhere. The Eagles are going to need contingency plans. They're going to need depth. And they're going to need Chris Kuper to figure out how to get the most out of a veteran group that's seen a lot of football.