Undergoing meniscus surgery in mid-August, Landon Dickerson was viewed as a candidate to come back early in the season. But missed time was still squarely on the radar for the Eagles’ Pro Bowl left guard.
That may not end up being required. After the defending Super Bowl champions kept Dickerson on their active roster — rather than making an IR move — Dickerson has returned to practice, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Adding Dickerson appears “full go,” McLane points to the four-year Philly starter opening the season on time.
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While the Eagles could take a safer route with one of their top players and give him their upcoming mini-bye to return ahead of Week 2 (after a Thursday-night Cowboys clash), the team having him back at practice days ahead of the opener certainly puts a debut against Dallas in play. A Pro Bowler three years running, Dickerson has only missed one start due to injury over the past three years.
The Eagles gave Dickerson a then-record four-year, $84MM extension in March 2024. He then served as a vital part of Saquon Barkley‘s 2,000-yard rushing season, teaming with Pro Bowlers Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens — along with left tackle mainstay Jordan Mailata and the resurgent Mekhi Becton — to power another strong Jeff Stoutland group. Becton parlayed his bounce-back season into a two-year Chargers deal, with Tyler Steen on track to start at RG.
With Steen a two-year backup set to debut as a regular starter, it would naturally benefit the Eagles not to need a Dickerson sub to start their title defense. Dickerson’s surgery was also believed to be minor, which kept the door open here. The team has Brett Toth and swingman Matt Pryor as backup options, and McLane adds Kenyon Green is now on the team’s 53-man roster.
Acquired in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, Green did not make a strong push to replace Becton and did not secure a spot on Philadelphia’s active roster this week. The former No. 15 overall pick follows Becton in being a disappointing first-rounder now in Philly’s O-line developmental program, but he is up from the practice squad and set to back up Dickerson and Steen. Green, who made 23 starts in Houston during a wildly underwhelming tenure, replaces waiver claim Willie Lampkin on the Eagles’ active roster. Lampkin landed on IR soon after being claimed.