Lane Johnson Misses Eagles' 24-20 Rams Loss, Forcing No. 68 Pick Markel Bell to Start
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports Philadelphia · Oct 5
Lane Johnson Misses Eagles' 24-20 Rams Loss, Forcing No. 68 Pick Markel Bell to Start
3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports Philadelphia · Oct 5
Summary
Lane Johnson was ruled out for personal reasons only after the Eagles arrived Sunday, leaving rookie third-rounder Markel Bell to make an emergency start at right tackle in a 24-20 loss to the Rams.
Fred Johnson was already sidelined by a knee injury, so Philadelphia had no real alternative; Bell had taken first-team reps in camp when Lane Johnson previously missed time for personal reasons.
Nick Sirianni offered no timetable for the 36-year-old's return, saying only, "We'll see where we are," while teammates called his absence tough but stressed a next-man-up approach.
Bell was not flawless, but Sirianni said he "battled" and did not appear to be the clear cause of any breakdowns in an offense that later finished with 68 net passing yards and went 0-for-12 on third down.
Johnson's value remains stark in the bigger picture: since 2016, the Eagles are 98-42-1 with him, compared with 15-29 without him, as he has indicated 2026 will likely be his final season.