The Philadelphia Eagles placed Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson on injured reserve this week, and the ripple effects could define how the 2026 season unfolds for one of the NFC’s most talented rosters.

Dickerson’s absence comes at a particularly difficult time. The Eagles’ offensive line, long considered one of the biggest strengths of the franchise, struggled across the board in the season opener. Now, Philadelphia has to find a replacement at guard while simultaneously figuring out why the unit as a whole looked so unlike the dominant group Eagles fans have become accustomed to seeing.

Dickerson’s placement on IR was a necessary move, even if it stings. He has earned three Pro Bowl selections in five seasons and, when healthy, has established himself as one of the better guards in football. He is also only 27 years old.

But Dickerson’s health has been a concern for some time. He wasn’t right for much of last season, and his performance in the opener was arguably the worst game of his career. He reportedly considered retirement during the offseason after years of dealing with injuries dating back to college, where he tore both knees.

Then, a late training-camp setback in which he was rolled up on only compounded the situation.

What stood out most was how Dickerson handled the situation publicly. He went on Philadelphia radio and told fans that he appreciated them holding him accountable. He called his own performance terrible and acknowledged that it wasn’t acceptable.

That type of accountability matters. Dickerson knows he hasn’t been healthy, and getting him away from the field now gives him an opportunity to get healthy rather than continuing to push through an issue that clearly wasn’t resolved.

Who Replaces Landon Dickerson?

The most likely replacement is Drew Kendall, a fifth-round pick from last year’s draft.

Kendall entered the NFL as a center before transitioning to guard with Philadelphia. He has been working at the position throughout his time with the Eagles and looked strong during training camp. He also started Philadelphia’s Week 17 game last season when the Eagles rested their starters.

Willie Lampkin is another possibility. Philadelphia claimed Lampkin last year, and although he is undersized at under 6-0, he may have had an even better training camp than Kendall.

For now, Kendall appears to be the frontrunner. But replacing Dickerson is only part of the problem.

The Eagles No Longer Have the Jeff Stoutland Safety Net

The bigger question surrounding Philadelphia’s offensive line is whether the Eagles can maintain their standard of play without former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.

For years, Eagles fans had a simple answer whenever an offensive lineman went down: Jeff Stoutland will figure it out.

That confidence was earned. Whether it was a player like Nate Herbig stepping into the lineup or another depth piece being asked to fill a significant role, Philadelphia consistently developed offensive linemen capable of keeping the unit functioning. That safety net is no longer in the building.

Now, the Eagles are facing their first major offensive-line crisis without the coach who had become synonymous with fixing those problems. Dickerson’s injury is going to test not only Philadelphia’s depth, but also the coaching and developmental infrastructure that has been established since Stoutland’s departure.

And unfortunately for the Eagles, the problems extend well beyond Dickerson.

The Offensive Line Problems Go Beyond Dickerson

Center Cam Jurgens is still dealing with a lingering back injury. Lane Johnson, one of the most dominant right tackles in football for nearly a decade, was put on his back in ways that haven’t been seen in roughly eight years.

Even Jordan Mailata, normally one of the most reliable players on the offensive line, had moments where he struggled. The collective problems up front bled into every phase of the offense.

Negative plays piled up. The Eagles struggled to consistently run the football. Protection broke down. Sacks became an issue. Drives stalled. It wasn’t simply a matter of Philadelphia being good on first down and failing to execute on third down. The problems were much more fundamental than that.

The Eagles couldn’t consistently win in the trenches. That’s particularly concerning for a franchise whose roster-building philosophy has long prioritized the offensive and defensive lines. General manager Howie Roseman has repeatedly invested significant resources into the trenches, and that philosophy has helped make Philadelphia one of the league’s most consistently competitive teams.

Now, that philosophy is being tested.

Some of the offensive struggles have led to questions about whether running back Saquon Barkley has lost a step. The film from the opener doesn’t support that conclusion. Barkley still looks explosive and fresh.

The more obvious explanation is much simpler: when the offensive line can’t create running lanes and can’t consistently protect the quarterback, there is only so much a running back or quarterback can do.

For the Eagles’ offense to become what Philadelphia expects it to be, the offensive line has to be dramatically better. And that challenge becomes even more significant this week.

Jeffrey Simmons Could Be the Biggest Problem for Philadelphia

The Tennessee Titans may not strike fear across the rest of their roster, but their defensive line remains the one position group capable of completely disrupting an opponent’s game plan. That makes the Eagles’ trip to Tennessee particularly interesting.

At the center of the matchup is Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons.

Tennessee has built its defensive identity around an aggressive, upfield defensive front designed to attack the line of scrimmage, generate pressure and create chaos. Simmons and defensive end John Franklin-Myers are supposed to be the anchors of that unit.

In Week 1 against the New York Jets, however, the Titans defensive line was arguably the biggest disappointment of the game. Franklin-Myers was credited with six pressures, but that disruption didn’t translate into meaningful results. The Jets offensive line kept quarterback Geno Smith clean for most of the afternoon. Smith was hit only once, and that came on a bad shotgun snap.

Tennessee finished the game with zero sacks and struggled to generate consistent pressure. The Titans also surrendered 152 rushing yards to Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.

For a defense built around its front, that isn’t good enough.

When the defensive line can’t win at the point of attack, the rest of the defense suffers. Linebackers aren’t able to play downhill with the same confidence, and defensive backs are forced to cover for longer periods of time. Tennessee’s defensive philosophy depends on its front creating disruption. It didn’t happen against the Jets.

Watch No. 98

That is what makes Jeffrey Simmons particularly dangerous this week.

Simmons played well individually against New York, but “well” isn’t necessarily the standard he holds himself to. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle is capable of taking over games from the interior, and he was visibly frustrated by the defensive line’s collective performance against the Jets.

A motivated Simmons is a problem. Now put him across from an Eagles offensive line that just had one of its worst performances in years — potentially without one of its best guards.

If Dickerson cannot play, the player replacing him could immediately find himself dealing with Simmons on the interior. That’s an extremely difficult assignment, particularly if Philadelphia’s protection communication isn’t perfect.

The Eagles have relied on their offensive line as the backbone of their offense for years. Tennessee has expected its defensive line to serve the same function for its defense. Something has to give.

If Simmons and Franklin-Myers are able to re-establish themselves against Philadelphia, the Titans could force Jalen Hurts into uncomfortable situations throughout the afternoon. That could mean more quick-game concepts, designed throws, movement in the pocket and an emphasis on getting the football out before Tennessee’s front has time to collapse the pocket.

Philadelphia simply cannot allow the Titans defensive line to find a rhythm.

The Eagles’ offensive line already has plenty to prove after Week 1. Now, without Dickerson and without the familiar safety net of Jeff Stoutland, the group gets one of the most physically imposing defensive tackles in football coming off a game in which his unit failed to meet expectations.

Keep an eye on No. 98.

Simmons is going to be ready to go, and after the way Week 1 unfolded, he has plenty to prove. For an Eagles offense desperately looking to get back on track, that’s about as difficult a matchup as it could ask for.