Eagles play Jaguars without Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens

The Philadelphia Eagles will play the Jacksonville Jaguars without right tackle Lane Johnson and center Cam Jurgens, following Johnson’s surprise retirement three games into the season and a trade sending Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens.

Eagles Keep Retiring Tackle on Roster for Cap Reasons

The 14th-year right tackle announced his retirement after missing the Eagles’ Week 4 game for personal reasons. Although Johnson indicated in August that the 2026 campaign would be his last, his in-season departure left the organization to navigate significant financial and roster hurdles. Rather than moving him immediately to the reserve/retired list, the Eagles are expected to keep Johnson on the 53-man roster throughout the season.

This approach delays salary cap ramifications and maintains an open window should the 36-year-old player change his mind. If the team carries Johnson until after June 1, cap acceleration will be pushed off, avoiding severe dead money penalties crashing down immediately. However, the decision means a player who is done playing football occupies an active roster spot all season, forcing the team to manage roster gymnastics and depth issues.

Philadelphia Trades Jurgens and Adjusts Lineup for London Game

Complicating matters further, general manager Howie Roseman traded Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to Baltimore for a 2027 fifth-rounder and a 2028 second-rounder. To patch together the line for the matchup against Jacksonville in London, Philadelphia turned to rookie Markel Bell at right tackle, elevated John Ojukwu, and signed center Jake Majors to the active roster after ruling out Drew Kendall with a knee injury.

While the Jurgens trade and Johnson's retirement suggested a broader selloff was underway, sources indicated that Philadelphia is not launching a teardown and still believes it can win now with its defense and skill-position talent. Roseman could even use the acquired 2028 second-round pick to trade for a player who can help immediately. Yet, as the team works to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts with a reshuffled offensive line, exactly how the ongoing discussions regarding Johnson’s option bonus payback and the ultimate cap figures will settle remains to be finalized.