After trouncing the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4, the Jacksonville Jaguars will next play the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Already, the Jags were a 6.5-point favorite in part because Philly has struggled the past two games and is dealing with a rash of injuries.
But if that wasn't enough, the news that Lane Johnson announced his sudden retirement just before the London game may have given the Jacksonville defense yet another edge.
The Jaguars won't have to deal with Lane Johnson when they play the Eagles
Just days before the Jaguars face Philadelphia in Week 5, Lane Johnson posted on social media that he's hanging up his cleats.
Thank you. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/up2kH1K40p
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) October 6, 2026
A first-round selection in 2013, Johnson was one of the longest-tenured players not just on the Philadelphia roster but in the NFL as well. Heck, only 13 players from the 2013 class remain in the league after Johnson announced his retirement. The former Oklahoma Sooner was one of the top right tackles, making the Pro Bowl six times and earning two First-Team All-Pro designations during his career.
And in case you were wondering just how dominant Johnson was, he gave up just 23 sacks throughout his 14-year NFL career, and 10 of those came in his rookie season. There's no doubt that his sudden retirement will leave a massive void in an Eagles offensive line that hasn't played particularly well this season.
With Johnson out of the mix, Markel Bell will be the next man up at right tackle. He started against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4 and was a mixed bag. It's also worth noting that Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens won't be available for Philly, so the Jacksonville pass rush will be in a great position to feast.
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The Jaguars must feast on the Eagles' O-Line without Lane Johnson
The Jaguars are coming off a strong outing against Cincinnati. Their defense racked up 20 pressures, 10 quarterback hits, and two sacks in Week 4. On top of that, Anthony Campanile's unit allowed just 23 rushing yards and less than 2.0 yards per carry.
With Lane Johnson, Cam Jurgens, and Landon Dickerson out of the mix, the Jags' pass rush should have no trouble bringing the heat against Philly. Similarly, running back Saquon Barkley is week-to-week and highly unlikely to suit up against Jacksonville. Compounding the issue is that Tank Bigsby, the Eagles' No. 2 running back, is on the Injured Reserve list, so he'll be unavailable for the London game.
When you add it all up, this will be the perfect storm for the Jags' defense. Of course, they'll still need to show up and deliver, but coach Camp must be licking his chops, knowing that his unit will have an edge.
The truth is that even if Lane Johnson suited up, the Eagles would have been the underdog for the game. But after his sudden retirement will most definitely tip the scale in the Jaguars' favor.
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