The Philadelphia Eagles spent the past several seasons wading through speculation on when Jason Kelce would retire. The star center finally walked away this offseason at 36.
Now, the question turns to how long stud right tackle Lane Johnson could stick around. The 34-year-old told reporters Wednesday that, physically, he thinks he could play another six years but likely won't
"I think physically ... I could play to 40," Johnson said, via the Philly Inquirer. "With my movement, I think physically I can do it.
"What weighs on my mind is just, my kids are getting older; my dad's getting older and has had some health issues."
Johnson added that he thinks he "realistically" has two or three more seasons left, which would put him on the Kelce-track.
"We'll see," he said. "It's hard to step away from something you love and something that you've done for so long. I grew up as an only child, so this is really the only brothers that I've had, being a part of a team."
It's not the first time that Johnson has flirted with the two-more-years prediction, but with each passing season it becomes more of a reality.
The Eagles planned for Kelce's eventual retirement, selecting eventual starter Cam Jurgens in the second round in 2022. While Johnson's substitute might not currently be on the roster -- unless Philly thinks it can get more production out of Mekhi Becton at tackle than he showed in New York -- assume general manager Howie Roseman will rectify the situation in the coming years.
Philly has boasted the best O-line in the NFL the past few years, with Kelce and Johnson as the keystones. Losing Kelce hurts. Thinking about Johnson, who is annually one of the best OTs in the NFL, walking away also stings. Luckily, the Eagles have a few years before that becomes a reality.
