The Philadelphia Eagles are wasting little time addressing their offensive line after Lane Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL.
According to Zach Berman of PHLY, Philadelphia worked out center James Brockermeyer on Tuesday. The undrafted rookie spent the summer with the Atlanta Falcons after playing collegiately at Miami, TCU and Alabama.
The move comes just days after Johnson was unexpectedly ruled out before the Eagles’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Johnson’s retirement leaves Philadelphia without one of the most accomplished offensive linemen in franchise history. The veteran spent 14 seasons with the Eagles, helping the organization win two Super Bowls while earning multiple All-Pro honors.
His departure also creates an immediate depth concern. Center Cam Jurgens is currently dealing with a concussion, while Philadelphia has had to rely on younger players along the offensive line.
Brockermeyer could give the Eagles another option as they attempt to stabilize the unit. The rookie’s ability to play center makes him an intriguing candidate for a team suddenly dealing with several questions up front.
The Eagles have also turned to rookie Markel Bell at right tackle following Johnson’s absence. That could place even more pressure on the coaching staff to find reliable depth before the team faces Jacksonville in Week 5.
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Philadelphia enters the matchup at 2-2 after dropping two straight games. The offensive line will be under particular scrutiny as quarterback Jalen Hurts prepares to operate without the veteran who protected his right side for much of his career.
For general manager Howie Roseman, the Brockermeyer workout is a small but important first step. Johnson cannot be replaced by one player, but the Eagles need to find answers quickly if they hope to get their season back on track.
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