The Dallas Cowboys have not moved atop the NFC East standings, but Lane Johnson’s retirement this week gives them a clearer path to make up ground. The New York Giants lead the division at 3-1, while Dallas and the Philadelphia Eagles are both 2-2 entering Wednesday.
The Eagles announced Tuesday that Johnson, their longtime right tackle, retired during his 14th season. Johnson started Philadelphia’s first three games of 2026 before missing the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams for personal reasons. The Eagles said rookie Markel Bell — who started against the Rams — is in line to start at right tackle Sunday against Jacksonville in London.
That development was the focus of the latest episode of Locked On Cowboys. Co-host Marcus Mosher said the show’s FanDuel snapshot had Dallas as the division favorite, while co-host Landon McCool argued that Philadelphia’s injuries and Johnson’s departure had put the Eagles in a vulnerable spot.
Johnson’s exit does not settle the division for Dallas. The Cowboys still have to close the gap on the Giants, and McCool said the defense must improve in both pass rush and coverage for Dallas to become a serious NFC contender. He pointed in particular to the challenge posed by mobile quarterbacks, a matchup type he believes has given the Cowboys’ defense more trouble than traditional pocket passers.
The immediate opportunity is real, though. Philadelphia is replacing one of the league’s most accomplished tackles during a two-game losing streak, and Dallas enters the next stretch after a Week 4 win over the Houston Texans. For the Cowboys, the value of Johnson’s retirement will be measured by whether they turn a changing division race into wins.
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