Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Fred Johnson has grown significantly since enrolling at Stoutland University in 2022. After spending time with three different teams through his first four seasons in the NFL, Johnson has finally found a home in the City of Brotherly Love.
Johnson was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 1, 2022. The Eagles signed him to the team’s practice squad one week later on November 8th. He embraced the opportunity to learn from Eagles’ offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, who is widely regarded as one of the best position coaches in the NFL.
After bouncing around the league to start his career in the NFL, Johnson has spent the last two and a half seasons in Philadelphia. Johnson has grown from a member of the practice squad in 2022 to Philadelphia’s swing tackle in 2024.
When Lane Johnson suffered a concussion against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3, Fred Johnson was called upon to step in at right tackle. He stepped in admirably, as the Eagles mounted a late comeback to improve to 2-1 to start the regular season.
Yet Johnson didn’t enjoy the same success at right tackle in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He struggled mightily against the Buccaneers, as he allowed 11 total pressures and two sacks. It was a discouraging performance that had some questioning if he deserves to be Philadelphia’s swing tackle.
Despite Johnson’s struggles, it’s worth noting that he has significantly more experience playing left tackle compared to right tackle. He has played 471 snaps at left tackle in the NFL, allowing just 12 total pressures. In comparison, he has played just 149 snaps at right tackle, allowing 17 total pressures.
While Johnson hasn’t started a game at left tackle since January 3, 2021, he is clearly more comfortable protecting the blindside. Which is noteworthy considering that he will likely be called upon to replace Eagles’ starting left tackle Jordan Mailata in the coming weeks.
Next man up for the Eagles
Throughout training camp and preseason action in 2024, Johnson primarily played left tackle. Although he stepped in at right tackle and played relatively well in Week 3 and Week 4, he clearly wasn’t comfortable lining up in that position.
Johnson understands the opportunity that is ahead of him at left tackle and how he needs to be prepared to step up at any given moment for the Eagles. He discussed Mailata’s injury and how he needed to fill-in for Philadelphia’s starting left tackle against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 with reporters on Wednesday.
“Even when he went down, he was walking off the field and he just looked at me and gave me a wink,” Johnson said at his locker. “I was like, ‘Okay, I’m pretty much there.’ He’s a dude who has faith in me and has confidence in me as a player and as his teammate.”
“I’ve been here some time,” Johnson continued. “My job is to execute when Lane (Johnson) or Jordan (Mailata) is out, so that’s what I’m here to do.”
Johnson will likely have his first opportunity since 2021 to execute as a starting left tackle in Week 7 for the Eagles against the New York Giants. Given his comfortability and experience on the left side, Johnson should play better but the Giants present a significant challenge.
New York currently leads the NFL with 26 sacks this season. While the Giants will be without Kayvon Thibodeux, they have plenty of dangerous pass rushers along their defensive front. Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Azeez Ojulari will all keep Philadelphia’s offensive line on their toes in Week 7.
Fred Johnson has allowed a pressure on just 2.5% of his career snaps at left tackle. If he can continue that success on the blindside and slow down New York’s stout defensive front, it would provide a massive boost for both Johnson’s career and the Eagles moving forward.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
