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Veteran swing tackle Fred Johnson made his presence known versus The Rams. Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

Fred Johnson showcased to Eagles fans his best Superman impression in Rams win

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles | By Alex Wiser | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 9:00 AM ET

After a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, which saw him leave for Jacksonville before being re-acquired by general manager Howie Roseman in August for a seventh-round pick, veteran offensive tackle Fred Johnson has been a man on the move.

Upon returning to the city of Brotherly Love, he's fast reclaimed his role as an unsung but absolutely crucial swing tackle. Look no further than his performance this past weekend, and despite his travels, it's clear he feels right at home in midnight green.

In Week 3's electrifying 33-26 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson re-introduced himself to the Philly faithful in resounding fashion. The veteran swing tackle provided 42 critical snaps of high-level play, providing stability while helping to slow down a fierce pass rush spearheaded by star Jared Verse and the upstart Rams front four.

With Los Angeles striking early and often, the Eagles' offensive script altered considerably from the prior two weeks. Anchor Lane Johnson (10 snaps) exited via the stinger he suffered during an attempted tush push in the first quarter, and first man in Matt Pryor (15 snaps) struggled when initially called upon.

As the Eagles' offense continued to languish, the Rams built a 19-point lead. In a pivotal third quarter sequence, a strip sack by Verse on Hurts spelled the end of the afternoon for Pryor, thrusting Fred Johnson into action amid an even greater sense of offensive urgency.

Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

With Fred Johnson manning that critical right tackle spot, the Eagles proceeded to push the tempo with hyper efficiency, taking shots downfield with regularity amid a far cleaner pocket. Time and again, it was Johnson standing tall and anchoring the right side of the line, affording Jalen Hurts breathing room to thread the needle as AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Hurts, and company caught fire down the stretch.

When the smoke cleared, three touchdowns in the four drives with the veteran swing tackle in the contest proved his presence was absolutely paramount.

"I told them, 'I'm my brother's keeper," said Fred Johnson. "And that's it. I gotta execute, I'm gonna help the team to win any way I can."

Johnson was one of the key performers in the much-anticipated rematch between the Rams and Eagles, helping Philadelphia mount a memorable comeback to cement a 3-0 start on the young season.

"Fred did a great job, just like Fred did last year in certain situations, to come in and play meaningful football," said Head Coach Nick Sirianni. "Making that change, that's hard to do sometimes, and I credit those guys a lot for that change."

Lane Johnson is poised to return at right tackle against the Bucs; yet, once again, Fred Johnson has exhibited all the signs of being a pivotal sixth man of sorts, someone who can make an impact whenever his number is called.

When he was re-acquired back in August, practice reps came for the seventh-year pro out of Florida, mainly at left tackle, where Johnson has also previously played well when Jordan Malaita succumbed to an injury. Yet his versatility and toughness once again took center stage at right tackle this time, and his ability to help spark the offensive turnaround was undeniable.

As the season continues to unfold, should either starting tackle spot need help, rest assured, big #74 will be looming on the sidelines, eager to answer the call.

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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