PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Mailata stood in front of Lane Johnson’s locker at the Philadelphia Eagles’ NovaCare Complex when he chatted with reporters on Monday.
It was a mere coincidence. Mailata didn’t realize where he was holding court until he looked over his right shoulder, and he made sure to note he wasn’t speaking for Johnson.
But asked if he thought Johnson, the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer, would retire or return for the 2026 season, Mailata cracked a smile.
“I’m expecting him back,” Mailata said of Johnson, who is under contract through the 2027 season. “But whatever happens, happens.”
Johnson wasn’t present during the media’s locker room availability on Monday, less than 24 hours after the Eagles’ NFC Wild Card round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Sunday was a bitter end to the Eagles’ season, especially for Johnson. There was optimism he would play in the playoffs after missing the final seven games of the regular season with a foot injury. But the five-time All-Pro, after practicing in a limited capacity throughout the week and trying to play, was ruled out less than two hours before kickoff.
Johnson didn’t have the season anyone thought he might. Coming off a Super Bowl win and a dominant 2024 campaign, the ageless wonder battled all year long. Johnson was managing lingering neck and back issues before suffering a Lisfranc injury in Week 11.
The Eagles sorely missed their star right tackle. Veteran offensive lineman Fred Johnson filled in admirably. But without the six-time Pro Bowler, Philadelphia went 3-5 overall, including Sunday’s 23-19 season-ending defeat to San Francisco.
Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata, left, and tackle Lane Johnson, right, arrives to the stadium prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)AP
Mailata said he “missed” not having Johnson against the 49ers but called the franchise legend “an ultimate pro” for how he handled himself during his extended absence.
“I think what upsets him the most, I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but he does everything he can to be available,” Mailata said. “But it’s not even when he’s hurt. It’s just even when he’s starting, his routine is so meticulous. Every minute is planned out, from the moment he wakes up to the minute he goes to bed. And so I think, for him, it irks him a little more, you know?
“He’s just done a fantastic job of being there for us, even when he wasn’t playing, just being supportive of especially me and Fred. … He’s concerned about what Fred and I are doing, the timing of our hands, our set lines, what we’re thinking on first and second down. Are we more aggressive? Or he’ll watch something on film. He was still watching film for us. And he’ll come, like, ‘Hey, I saw that this guy, second step, he likes to do a little shake and bake inside. So that experience that we get from him being a total pro is very invaluable. And I’m gonna thank him for that.”
Johnson’s absence was one of the biggest storylines of the Eagles’ 2025 season.
And now as they enter the offseason, his status for 2026 will be one of their biggest question marks.