Eagles see Landon Dickerson and Fred Johnson back in Friday practice, raising hopes for Sunday vs Raiders amid injuries to Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter.
Injury Update
- Landon Dickerson (calf) and Fred Johnson (ankle) participated in the early portion of Friday’s practice, a positive sign for Sunday’s game.
- Dickerson missed Thursday practice with an added rest designation after being listed as limited to start the week. He suffered a calf injury against the Chargers but returned and finished that game. He also had a rest day last week.
- Fred Johnson appeared on the injury report Thursday, indicating an injury likely sustained during practice. He was not wearing a wrap or brace on his ankle.
- Lane Johnson (foot) and Jalen Carter (shoulders) missed the entire week of practice and are expected to be ruled out later today when the Eagles release their final injury report.
- This will be Johnson’s fourth missed game; he had a Lisfranc sprain against the Lions on Nov. 16. The Eagles did not place him on Injured Reserve, hoping he could return. Fred Johnson has started the last three games.
Practice Highlights
- Zack Baun (hand) was a full participant this week and returned to the field Friday.
- Long snapper Charley Hughlett has been a full participant all week. He must be activated off IR by 4 p.m. Saturday, resuming his long‑snapper role after missing Week 4 due to a core muscle injury that required surgery.
Defensive Line Adjustments
- Vic Fangio and Brandon Graham discussed moving a veteran defensive lineman to defensive tackle to compensate for Jalen Carter’s absence.
- The defensive line stepped up last week, pressuring quarterback Justin Herbert and sacking him six times. The Raiders have given up more sacks than any team in the NFL, making this a crucial front‑line matchup.
- Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ star pass rusher, lines up on the Eagles’ right‑tackle side about 87 % of the time. Nick Sirianni said, “He is a phenomenal football player. We’ve thought about him quite a bit this week. And that’s our job as players and coaches, to make sure that guys like that we think about and have a plan for.”
Key Takeaways
- Landon Dickerson and Fred Johnson’s return boosts the Eagles’ line depth heading into Sunday.
- Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter are likely out, raising concerns for the offensive line and defensive front.
- The Eagles’ defensive line proved effective against Justin Herbert, and the team is preparing to counter Maxx Crosby’s impact on the right side.
The Eagles’ preparation and player availability will be critical as they face the Raiders on Sunday, with injuries and recent performance shaping the game’s expectations.
