Lane Johnson is expected to remain on the Eagles 53-man roster. Here’s why.
If the Eagles wait until after June 1 to place Johnson on the reserve/retired list, they would be able to spread his remaining cap hit over the next two seasons.
LONDON — Five days after announcing his retirement, Lane Johnson remains on the Eagles roster. Johnson, who announced his retirement on Tuesday, two days after he was a late scratch for the team’s Week 4 game, may remain there for the foreseeable future, possibly for the remainder of the 2026 season.
There would be salary cap ramifications to placing Johnson on the reserve/retired list now. If the Eagles wait until after June 1, they would be able to spread his remaining cap hit over the next two seasons.
According to Over the Cap, if the Eagles officially retire Johnson after June 1, he would count $16.6 million in dead money in 2027 and $26.276 million in 2028.
Keeping Johnson on the 53-man roster also allows for the unlikely scenario where he decides to come out of retirement this season.
The Eagles’ game against the Jaguars on Sunday was their first with the 14-year right tackle no longer with the team. Markel Bell got the start in his place along the new-look offensive line in front of Jalen Hurts as they navigate multiple injuries and the trade of Cam Jurgens.
Only two of their Week 1 starters on the offensive line — left tackle Jordan Mailata and right guard Tyler Steen — were in uniform on Sunday. Drew Kendall, who had been filling in for Jurgens at center after Jurgens slid over to replace injured Landon Dickerson at left guard, was also inactive with a knee injury.
In addition to the linemen, the Eagles were without Saquon Barkley (hamstring), DeVonta Smith (hamstring), Tank Bigsby (core muscle), and Hollywood Brown (ankle) as their offense deals with a list of absences.
