Eagles' Latest Development Is Good for Jalen Hurts

Johnson suffered a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot during Philadelphia’s Week 11 win over the Detroit Lions on Nov. 16, limping off in the first quarter. Johnson was later diagnosed with the sprain and initially given a four- to six-week timeline for his return.

He was a non-participant at practice and is set to miss his fourth straight game when the Eagles welcome the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. However, hours before the game, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirmed that Johnson could return to practice this week and is targeting a possible return in Week 16 or Week 17.

“Help on the way for the #Eagles: All-Pro OT Lane Johnson, dealing with a Lisfranc sprain, is likely to return to practice this week with eyes on facing the #Commanders (Dec 20) or #Bills (Dec 28),” Rapoport wrote on X.

That timeline is a positive development for the Eagles’ offensive line, which has struggled in his absence and has been forced to rely on backups like Fred Johnson and Matt Pryor against elite pass rushers.

Lane Johnson’s résumé reinforces how significant his return could be. Drafted fourth overall in 2013, he has been one of the league’s premier linemen with six Pro Bowl and five All-Pro selections and has helped anchor Philadelphia’s offense through two Super Bowl titles, including last season’s championship run. This season, Johnson has allowed the lowest pressure rate among all NFL offensive tackles.

For Hurts, having Johnson back, even at less than 100%, would strengthen pass protection and bolster the ground game, potentially easing the quarterback’s burden as he looks to shake off a career-worst performance and rediscover the form that powered the Eagles last season.

Philadelphia will host the struggling Raiders at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be televised on Fox, with Eagles fans hoping that both the matchup and Johnson’s looming return can provide a catalyst for offensive improvement.