Lane Johnson's Retirement Clock Just Started Ticking
Jeff Stoutland is gone. Lane Johnson is banged up. A young offensive line coach is taking over. All signs point toward the end.
Lane Johnson's Retirement Clock Just Started Ticking
Lane Johnson has been one of the best right tackles in football for over a decade. He's been to Super Bowls. He's anchored championship-caliber offensive lines. He's played through injuries that would sideline lesser men.
But the circumstances around him are changing fast.
Jeff Stoutland — the coach who developed him, pushed him, and built one of the best offensive line rooms in football — is gone. Chris Kuper, a much younger coach, is taking over. Jason Kelce retired last year. The unit Johnson anchored for so long looks completely different.
And Johnson himself is dealing with injuries. He's played hurt. His body has taken a beating. At some point, the toll becomes too much.
Garry Cobb suggested Johnson might be seriously considering retirement now. Without Stoutland in the building, the connection that kept him engaged is severed. A young coach with new ideas is a different dynamic than the relationship Johnson built over years.
The Eagles need to be prepared. If Johnson walks, they need a plan at right tackle. If he stays, they need to manage his snaps carefully. Either way, the clock is ticking on one of the greatest Eagles linemen of this era.
Enjoy watching Lane Johnson while you still can. The end might come sooner than anyone expected.
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