Sports Illustrated
With Lane Johnson retiring after nearly 14 seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles are turning to rookie third-round tackle Markel Bell to assess his potential as a starter, while also confronting a thinned offensive line and several injuries. Bell was selected in the third round this spring with a draft-day trade haul from Haason Reddick, and his early involvement comes as the team reshuffles line personnel, including moving Cam Jurgens to left guard and Drew Kendall to center. The immediate question is whether Bell can hold the right tackle spot, given Fred Johnson’s knee injury and the lack of appreciable depth behind the starters. The broader implication is a seasonogram of the line’s fragility, requiring other backups to step up as the offense navigates missing key players. The next steps will hinge on Bell’s performance, health recoveries, and how the coaching staff and roster depth adapt to ongoing injuries and possible lineup changes.