PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson came to work for the first time in a month Monday. Johnson returned to Philadelphia after spending his four-game NFL suspension working out in Dallas.
Johnson will practice with his teammates Tuesday. His status for Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams will be determined based on his conditioning and ability to absorb the Eagles’ offense.
“We haven’t seen him for a month,” coach Chip Kelly said Monday. “He told me he was at API [sports complex] in Dallas, working out. There were some other players there. He looked good. It’s just the unknown. I haven’t seen him in four weeks, so where’s he at? How does he process things? How quickly does he process things? Where is he from a health standpoint?”
Johnson’s plan was to talk regularly with right guard Todd Herremans in order to stay abreast of changes in the offensive line’s approach. Herremans wound up playing Johnson’s right tackle spot after backup Allen Barbre went on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
Injuries have created issues all along their offensive line. Left tackle Jason Peters is the only starter who was in his original position for Sunday’s loss in San Francisco. Matt Tobin is the fourth player to play left guard since Pro Bowler Evan Mathis sprained a ligament in his left knee. David Molk started Sunday at center in place of Jason Kelce, who has a sports hernia. Dennis Kelly filled in for Herremans at right guard against the 49ers.
Johnson’s return would allow Herremans to return to guard. That would leave center and left guard as the two spots in the hands of backups. Kelly said Tobin and Molk played fairly well in San Francisco, although the line as a unit was unable to get any push and spring running back LeSean McCoy.
“I thought David [Molk] did a good job,” Kelly said. “Competed. There’s a few times his lack of size was probably an issue for him, where he got bowled a couple times. I thought overall, for his first time playing, he did a good job. I thought the same thing with Tobe. He got banged early in the second quarter and was limping a little bit. He shook it off and came back. I thought for the first time playing, they held their own.”
Kelly said his staff would discuss options for next week. Wade Smith, a veteran signed after Mathis was injured two weeks ago, could move into the left guard spot. So could Kelly, assuming Johnson plays and Herremans is back at guard.
“We’re going to look at everything now,” Kelly said. “We haven’t sat down and said, what have we got healthy, who’s up, who can go and what we can do.”