Lane Johnson is not riding off into the sunset just yet. The six-time Pro Bowler told reporters on Thursday that he will suit up for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2026, ending weeks of speculation about whether an injury-shortened season might push him into retirement. At roughly the same time, team insiders have been signaling that left guard Landon Dickerson is planning to play next year as well, although Dickerson has yet to say so publicly. Together, those developments give the Eagles' offensive line a very different outlook after a season that fell well short of the dominant standard fans still associate with their last championship run.
Johnson ends the guessing
Johnson told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday that he intends to return for a 14th NFL season, finally putting a firm answer on months of retirement chatter. The veteran right tackle, who missed the final eight games of the 2025 season with a Lisfranc foot injury, said he has been deep into rehab work and has already met with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and incoming offensive line coach Chris Kuper. With that, one of the biggest wild cards on the Eagles roster heading into the offseason is officially off the board.
Dickerson's status remains murky
The situation at left guard is a little less tidy. Local beat writers have reported that Landon Dickerson is leaning toward playing in 2026, but there is not the same level of certainty that surrounds Johnson. As noted by PhillyVoice, Eagles reporter Derrick Gunn posted that "Landon Dickerson is planning to return for the 2026 season," yet Dickerson has not issued a formal announcement, and people inside the organization remain mindful of his health. His age and contract give the team legitimate reason for optimism, but the Eagles will want something closer to a firm commitment well before training camp.
Coaching shake-up and roster context
Johnson's decision lands with extra weight because the Eagles clearly stumbled without him late in 2025. The offense lost traction after his foot injury and the team limped to the finish, as noted by NFL.com. That vulnerability is under a brighter spotlight now, with a major coaching reshuffle on the offensive side of the ball. Longtime run game and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is gone, Chris Kuper has been brought in, and the front office is eager to hang on to as much continuity in the starting line as it possibly can.
What to watch this offseason
All signs point to the NFL Combine as the next pressure point in this saga. Coaches and general manager Howie Roseman are expected to be in Indianapolis, and reporters say the organization should get a clearer read on Dickerson's plan there, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The money matters too. Johnson signed a one-year extension last March that keeps him under contract through 2027, which gives the Eagles a defined path on the right side of the line, per CBS Sports.
For the moment, the Eagles at least have a measure of stability. Johnson's return is official, and if Dickerson follows through on what local reporting suggests, the core of the starting offensive line would largely remain intact. Local outlets were among the first to highlight both names, including a breaking segment from 12 News, and the Combine should reveal just how firm those plans really are.
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