Listen, when it rains, it pours. The Philadelphia Eagles just lost Lane Johnson to retirement, and the timing could not be worse for an offensive line that was already one of the worst in the NFL. One thing after another keeps piling up on this team. I’ll be honest: it is starting to feel like this may not be the Eagles’ season.

Before we get into what this means for Philadelphia, let’s start where we should. Hats off to Lane Johnson. Thank you for your services.

Lane Johnson goes out as an all-time Eagle

Johnson will go down as an all-time Eagle, period. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion, a six-time Pro Bowler, and a five-time All-Pro. As far as I’m concerned, he is one of the best players in franchise history. He anchored the right side of that line for years and set the standard for what a tackle in this league is supposed to look like.

Johnson sat out the Eagles’ last game, and rumblings about retirement started almost immediately. He has spoken openly about his mental health before, and he addressed it again in his goodbye statement. He said he just is not there physically or mentally anymore.

So I can’t fault the guy. Not even a little bit. Mental health comes first, and Johnson has earned the right to walk away on his own terms after everything he gave this franchise. I wish him nothing but the best in retirement.

Where does the Eagles’ offensive line go from here?

Now, as we look ahead for the Eagles, this is where it gets ugly.

This offensive line was already struggling before Johnson’s decision. We heard a lot of good things out of training camp about Markel Bell, but he struggled mightily in his debut. Cam Jurgens is cooked. Landon Dickerson is still out. That is not a unit you want to lose a future Hall of Fame candidate from, and yet here we are.

So where does the line go from here? I really don’t know. Nobody on this roster can just slide into Johnson’s spot and play at his level, and the guys already out there are not holding up their end either. Philly has relied on its trenches for years. That identity is what made this offense go, and right now it is cracking at nearly every position.

Keep in mind, the problems aren’t limited to the line. This Eagles team has not played a good game yet. Not one. The offense looks out of sync, the protection has been shaky, and the results have matched. It feels like everything is coming down at once.

Brutal timing for Howie Roseman

This puts general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles front office in a tough predicament. Roseman has pulled plenty of rabbits out of his hat over the years, and if anybody can find a fix midseason, it’s him. But there is no obvious answer sitting on the market for a hole this size.

Any free agents out there? Somebody pick up the phone. I mean that. Philadelphia needs help, and it needs it fast. Whether that’s a veteran tackle sitting at home, a trade for a guy who can stabilize the right side, or simply getting Dickerson back on the field, the Eagles GM has to do something. Standing pat with what we’ve seen so far is not an option.

Again, I completely understand why Johnson made this call, and nobody should hold it against him. But this offensive line is not in good shape, and this team is not in good shape.

It’s early in the season. There is still a lot of football left, and maybe they figure something out. But the Eagles need help, and they need it now. Brutal, brutal timing.