The Philadelphia Eagles have placed starting left tackle Jordan Mailata on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, the team announced Friday.
This makes official what coach Nick Sirianni shared earlier this week when he said the 27-year-old would be out for multiple weeks. Mailata will now be sidelined for at least the next four games, pushing his earliest possible return to Week 11, when Philadelphia hosts the Washington Commanders on “Thursday Night Football.”
Mailata’s official move to injured reserve is a substantial blow to one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, although the timeline of his recovery is not unexpected. Mailata was seen on crutches after Sunday’s Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns, in which he was carted off the field in the fourth quarter.
Mailata is one of Philadelphia’s locker room pillars post-Jason Kelce and will be a difficult presence for the Eagles to replace. He was voted one of the team’s captains and is one of the league’s best left tackles. Mailata, who signed a three-year, $66 million contract extension in the offseason, has started 62-of-67 career games, including 48 of the Eagles’ last 50 games dating back to Oct. 2021.
Backup Fred Johnson is positioned to replace Mailata against the New York Giants on Sunday and beyond. He also filled in for Mailata against the Browns.
The Eagles coaching staff has been pleased with Johnson’s development. Mailata projected his faith in Johnson while limping on the field Sunday, when Johnson said Mailata looked over and dropped him a wink.
Johnson will be entrusted with a pivotal position on a proven line that still features All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson and Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson.
Required reading:
- What Saquon Barkley has meant to the Eagles since leaving rival Giants
- Eagles’ Nick Sirianni apologizes for exchange with fans: ‘Got to have better wisdom’
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