It didn't take very long for Lane Johnson to remind the Eagles what they had been missing during the past 10 games. Look no further than the opening series from their 24-19 victory over the Giants on Thursday night (see game recap).
On the offense's very first play from scrimmage, Ryan Mathews carried behind Johnson for a 17-yard gain. Six plays later, Darren Sproles took a toss 25 yards for a touchdown, with the right tackle delivering one of the key blocks to get the running back into the open field.
There was no question in Johnson's mind that Eagles coach Doug Pederson was testing his preparedness coming off of an extended absence.
Johnson passed.
"I felt like he was going to see what I could do out of the game and see where it could take us throughout the game," Johnson said. "It started off with a boom. We got good momentum, and usually when that happens, it does well for us."
Obviously, the Eagles missed Johnson on the field while the fifth-year veteran was serving his suspension for violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. Prior to the ban, the club's record was 3-1 and hopes were sky high, but since, the team was 2-8 and eliminated from playoff contention in the meantime.
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Johnson's presence probably meant more to the Eagles than records or statistics could measure though. It's also the attitude he brings to the locker room, meetings and practice field that's been sorely missed for the last two-and-a-half months.
"Lane, his personality is very contagious," Eagles center Jason Kelce said. "He's a high-energy guy, he brings a lot of enthusiasm, and then on top of that, he's a tremendous player."
"Not having him definitely hurt, but him just coming back, you could even tell in the locker room, just having everybody back, it was kind of a good feeling," wide receiver Jordan Matthews said.
"I think we kind of took that feeling into this game."
True, the Eagles were missing their starting right tackle and one of the foundations of the franchise. What might have went overlooked outside the building all this time, however, is Johnson's unique style of leadership.
"One thing I try to do when I come in the locker room is lighten things up," Johnson said. "This is a high-pressure game. You get a lot of scrutiny, and one thing I like to do is try to keep it fun in the locker room."
With Johnson back in the lineup, the offense seemed to play with a lot more swagger, particularly early on, scoring two first-half touchdowns.
The Eagles only averaged 3.9 yards per rushing attempt, although Sproles' touchdown was the second-longest run of the season, a 30-yard carry back in Week 2. Perhaps most important, quarterback Carson Wentz was protected very well, only sustaining three hits in the contest, and zero sacks for only the third time all season.
Johnson wasn't perfect, but it was clear how much of a difference-maker he is for the Eagles.
"I messed up a few times on some protections," Johnson said. "It felt weird being out there to be honest. Glad we got the win, but it was a weird experience."
The challenging part for Johnson after being out for so much time wasn't technique, physically dominating his opponent or even conditioning. It was conquering the mental aspect of the game, and catching up with an offense that has made numerous schematic advancements in the 10 weeks while he was away.
"I felt in good condition," Johnson said. "I just felt some of the new stuff as far as scheme-wise, I haven't really had a chance to practice or go over, just walked through stuff. Other than that though, I felt in decent shape."
His teammates understood the challenges Johnson faced, but were impressed nonetheless and realize how much better off the Eagles were for his return.
"We knew on a short week, he was in a tough predicament," Kelce said. "He hadn't played football in 10 weeks, and then he only has three days to prepare for a game, and our offense, things have changed since even the beginning of the season. You're never stagnant.
"There was a lot of stuff he had to get caught up on, and then to come out here and play a game on a short week, I think he handled it really, really well and I'm happy to have him back."
"I know a lot of people made a hoopla about Lane being back, which they should," Matthews said. "He's a part of the team. He's a piece of the puzzle.
"The body can't work without one foot. You're going to limp around a long time. You neeed every part of the body. Every piece matters, and he's definitely an intricate piece, because he's on our offensive line."
Johnson also understands he has a long way to go before winning back some teammates who might feel he hung them out to dry with his suspension. Eagles fans, on the other hand, seemed to be in a forgiving mood on Thursday.
The 26-year-old was anticipating a negative reaction when his name was announced to the Lincoln Financial Field faithful before the Eagles' tilt with the Giants. What he heard instead was surprising.
"I was expecting a lot of boos, but they showed me love," Johnson said.
"We joked about that, what was going to happen. I thought about holding up a sign that said, 'I'm sorry.'"
Johnson didn't need to deliver a written apology. His play on the field on Thursday was definitely a start toward getting back in the fans' good graces.
Now he needs to build on the momentum and continue saying sorry by abiding by NFL rules and staying in the lineup for the Eagles in the future. His next suspension for PEDs would result in losing an entire season, possibly costing him his job with the team.
For what it's worth, Johnson is determined not to let that happen. But as always, actions speak louder than words.
"I'm indebted to this city," Johnson said. "Talk is not going to get the job done. It's going out there and execute and play well and give your heart to the city, and that's what I have to do in the future."
