In 2018, the Eagles secondary got decimated by injuries. Last season, it was the wide receivers who caught the injury bug. This time around, it appears the offensive line will be the position group that gets ravaged by injuries.
The team is already down two starters, with Brandon Brooks and Andre Dillard both out for the season, and the season is still over two weeks away. With these two on the sideline, the starting five on the line will be (from left to right) Jason Peters, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Matt Pryor and Lane Johnson.
In all honesty, that’s still a solid starting unit up front. The major concern comes when you take a peak at who’s behind them on the depth chart. Nate Herbig, Jordan Mailata, Jack Driscoll, Prince Tega Wanogho, Julian Good-Jones, Luke Juriga and Sua Opeta have a combined three career snaps in the NFL.
There’s bound to be another injury along this offensive line in 2020. At 38 years old, I’d say the likelihood of Jason Peters staying healthy for 16 games this season is about 25%. Over the past three seasons, JP has started and finished 32 of a possible 54 games. He’s going to get banged up at some point this year.
Do we really trust Jordan Mailata to go in there and effectively protect Carson Wentz’s blindside during the regular season? I don’t, but I also don’t know what the team can do at this point except prepare the players they have.
Howie Roseman does have some cap room to go out and sign a veteran tackle, but like I said, the season starts in two and a half weeks. Getting someone acclimated to this offense in such a short amount of time is nearly impossible, not to mention the fact that this offensive coaching staff already has their hands full with all the young, inexperienced players in the offensive line group.
It’s no secret that this offense relies heavily on their offensive line, as does every offense in the league. We can talk about all the speed we added on the outside, or how this new group of offensive coaches will get the most out of Wentz. But if the offensive line struggles throughout the season, neither of those sentiments will matter.
I have faith that both Peters and Matt Pryor will be suitable starters along the line, I’m just concerned the players behind them on the depth chart won’t be ready if another starter gets injured.
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