The the eagles The offensive line has been without a key starter since their first game after the bye week, but now looks set to return, bolstering both their protection and depth.

The Eagles opened at left tackle of Jordan Mailata 21-day practice window Monday afternoon, setting the stage for his potential return. Mailata suffered a hamstring injury with 9:49 left in the fourth quarter. After the game, he went down on one knee and needed assistance to leave the field. After a quick visit to the medical tent, he was taken off and subsequently ruled out for the rest of the game. Mailata was later seen using crutches on the field, supporting his 6-foot-7, 270-pound frame as he spoke with teammates and their families. The following week, he was placed on injured reserve.

In recent weeks, Mailata has been seen working with trainers on the sidelines, rehabilitating to ensure he is ready for a comeback. He’s progressed to the point where he could soon be activated off injured reserve if he checks off certain boxes, such as conditioning and if there are hamstring comfort issues. Mailata appears to be feeling fine as he was a full participant in Monday’s team practice. During Monday’s press conference, head coach Nick Sirianni said the team will “play by ear” regarding Mailata’s return to face the Washington Commanders on Thursday night, but did not completely rule him out, saying the team will put him on positions. to test his hamstring to see if it’s ready.

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As Mailata went out, Fred Johnson filled in as the starting left tackle, performing solidly. Conformable Professional football FocusJohnson allowed five combined sacks and hurries over a four-game stretch that saw him face tough competition, including Giants linebacker Brian Burns, Bengals Trey Hendrickson, Jaguars Josh Hines-Allen and Cowboys Micah Parsons.

When Mailata returns, Johnson can return to being the “swing” tackle, replacing Mailata or right tackle Lane Johnson if either player was forced out of the game. The time Johnson has had will allow him to come in quickly and not be affected by live-game snaps because he has already experienced them.

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Chris Franklin can be reached at [email protected].