PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Eagles avoided a major injury scare regarding three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson on Monday afternoon. An MRI showed that he suffered a meniscus injury at the team’s public practice at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday which silenced the sold-out crowd watching him gingerly walk off the field with some help before being carted off the field.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the offensive lineman will go under a “minor procedure” on the meniscus in his right knee within the coming days and considered week-to-week.
Based on how the injury initially looked, Dickerson and the Eagles will certainly take that time frame over an entire season. The former second-round pick by Philadelphia in 2021 has been very durable since joining the league starting in 62 of 63 games with the Eagles and all nine postseason games since being drafted and while he will certainly want to get back out there as soon as possible, the team might ease him back in.
With that said, there is a chance Dickerson could not be ready for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 4 which means the Eagles would need a backup plan.
In-House Options
Tyler Steen
The Eagles have a plethora of All-Pro talent across the offensive line with right guard being the position in question entering this season. Tyler Steen took a firm grip on the starting job but with the Dickerson injury, could see himself back at the left guard spot. Steen played at left guard in the NFC Championship game in place of Dickerson who was wearing a brace on his left knee that game and had to move over to center to replace an injured Cam Jurgens. Steen held his own not allowing a sack against or quarterback hits against the Commanders.
Steen, in his third season, has played in 28 games making three starts at tackle and guard with the Eagles and has experience filling in when needed in his first two seasons as an Eagle.
Matt Pryor
Moving Steen coincides with Pryor stepping in at right guard. He certainly has the experience at the guard position, with over 1,000 snaps under his belt in his six-year career, all on the right side of the line. Prior to his second stint with the Eagles this season, Pryor spent last season with Chicago where he played in all 17 games making 15 starts.
Brett Toth did replace Dickerson at the open practice, but Pryor would be the most logical choice based on his experience and ability.
Brett Toth
The Army product is currently listed as the backup center to Cam Jurgens but has been the primary backup to Dickerson. The 28-year-old has value as a versatile depth piece for the team but may be thrusted into a starting role with the shoulder injury to Kenyon Green, who was possibly another option to fill in on the offensive line, that will reportedly force him to miss the remainder of the preseason.
Trevor Keegan/Darian Kinnard/Rookies
Keegan has had quite the last two seasons winning the CFP National Championship with Michigan in 2024 and then winning the Super Bowl last season with the Eagles. A fifth-round selection by Philadelphia in the 2024 draft, Keegan has dealt with a back injury during camp and has been tested out at center according to The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena.
Kinnard was originally drafted in the fifth round in the 2022 draft by Kansas City out of Kentucky. The 2-year-old is a big bodied lineman listed at 6-foot-5, 322-pounds and could see some reps with the first team offense.
More likely a long shot, but rookies Myles Hinton and Drew Kendall could also become options as Jeff Stoutland likes to cross train most of his lineman to increase the unit’s versatility. Hinton comes from an NFL pedigree with his father Chris being a seven-time Pro Bowler and First-Team All Pro selection in 1993 playing in 177 career games with the Colts, Falcons and Vikings.
Kendall is a center, but he could potentially kick out to guar and get some reps during practice.
Outside Help
Brandon Scherff
The most established free agent is the 33-year-old guard who has been named a five-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro back in 2020. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with Washington while spending the last three with the Jaguars. Last season, he had a 93.8% win rate according to ESPN and was one of the better guards in the league when it came to pass protection.
Dalton Risner
A former second-round pick by the Denver Broncos when Vic Fangio was the head coach and played four years with the Broncos before signing with Minnesota in 2023. With the Vikings last season, he worked his way back from injury and played the final nine games of the season. According to Pro Football Focus, Risner allowed just one sack on 398 pass blocking snaps. He also has spent the bulk of his career at left guard so it would be a natural fit, allowing the Eagles to not move multiple players around on the line. He is a free agent and would more than likely be a cheaper option if Roseman and the Eagles go that route.
Jack Driscoll
Old friend alert! The Super Bowl champion is a free agent and would be a familiar face that could provide versatile depth at the very least. He saw game action in each of his five seasons with the Eagles and would not need much time to get caught up to speed with the offense.
