How Eagles are on 13th offensive line combination in 14 games

The Eagles expected their offensive line to be a strength in 2020.

Instead, the Eagles have done something no NFL team has ever done before. They’ve changed their OL combination almost every week, a trend that will continue this weekend in Arizona.

As a reminder, this was the OL the Eagles wanted to have this season:

LT: Andre Dillard

LG: Isaac Seumalo

C: Jason Kelce

RG: Brandon Brooks

RT: Lane Johnson

But instead, they’ll have their 13th different offensive line combination in 14 games when they take on the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

Here’s how it all happened:

Week 1 at WAS: Peters, Seumalo, Kelce, Herbig, Driscoll

Instead of having two Pro Bowlers anchor the right side of the line, the Eagles ended up starting a second year UDFA and a rookie fourth-round pick. Johnson had tightrope surgery on his left ankle before the season and wasn’t quite ready for Week 1, so Driscoll, the rookie from Auburn, started in his place. Brooks was lost for the season in June and Dillard was lost for the season in August.

With a bump in pay, the Eagles moved Peters to left tackle to replace Dillard.

The big surprise in Week 1 was that Nate Herbig got the start over Matt Pryor. After all, when Brooks missed the playoff game in January, it was Pryor who started in his place. But Herbig, a UDFA out of Stanford in 2019, had shown enough in practice to surpass Pryor on the depth chart. He made his first-career NFL start.

Week 2 vs. LAR: Peters, Seumalo, Kelce, Herbig, Johnson

After missing Week 1, Johnson felt good enough to return to action for the Rams game and played 69 of 71 snaps. When he exited the lineup for those two plays, Driscoll took his place.

The big news in Week 2 was that Isaac Seumalo hurt his knee after just 25 plays. He was put on IR and needed knee surgery. He would miss a couple months.

Week 3 vs. CIN: Peters, Herbig, Kelce, Pryor, Johnson

With Seumalo on IR, the Eagles turned to Pryor. But because Pryor was much more comfortable on the right side of the line, they moved Herbig to left guard and put Pryor between Kelce and Johnson.

This was the overtime game against the Bengals and four of the Eagles’ five offensive linemen played all 91 snaps. The only guy who didn’t was Peters, who played 89 of 91.

Week 4 at SFO: Mailata, Herbig, Kelce, Pryor, Johnson

The Eagles were hoping to run back that Week 3 offensive line, but that didn’t happen. Peters missed the first two days of practice that week with illness and then on Friday reported to the team that he felt some discomfort in his foot/toe. He was placed on Injured Reserve the Saturday before the Eagles-49ers game in Week 4 and we learned that Jordan Mailata was going to make his first NFL start.

Against the 49ers, the Eagles pulled off a 25-20 upset win. But Johnson lasted just 37 of 62 snaps.

Week 5 at PIT: Mailata, Herbig, Kelce, Pryor, Johnson

Hey! It finally looked like the Eagles found some consistency. They actually got to run back their offensive line for the first (and only) time all season. But Johnson’s ankle continued to be a problem. He played just 39 of 59 snaps in this one.

Week 6 vs. BAL: Mailata, Herbig, Kelce, Brown, Driscoll

After leaving back-to-back games early with that ankle injury, Johnson needed to take a seat against the Ravens, which meant Driscoll was back in the starting lineup. And the Eagles had a new right guard because Pryor was put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list after he had close contact with someone who tested positive.

Veteran Jamon Brown got the start and was a complete disaster. He had one of the worst offensive line performances we have ever seen. And when Driscoll hurt his ankle during the game, the Eagles were forced to play project offensive tackle Brett Toth, who didn’t even pass block at Army.

Week 7 vs. NYG: Mailata, Opeta, Kelce, Herbig, Johnson

The Eagles had to play the Giants on a short week so even though Pryor was activated off the COVID-19 list in time he didn’t get any practice reps and didn’t play. After watching Brown in Week 6, there was no way the Eagles could play him again and actually cut him, later adding him to their practice squad. So the Eagles moved Herbig back to right guard and played Sua Opeta at left guard, where he feels more comfortable. This was Opeta’s first-career start.

Johnson returned for this game and played 60 of 81 snaps. When he came out, Pryor filled in at right tackle.

Week 8 vs. DAL: Peters, Herbig, Kelce, Pryor, Mailata

In the game before the bye week, the Eagles sat Johnson in an attempt to let him rest that ankle and a knee injury that had developed off of it. Peters was able to return from IR, so he went back at left tackle and then the Eagles slid Mailata to the other side to fill in for Johnson. So this was Mailata’s first career start at right tackle. Pryor was back in the starting lineup with practice time to prepare.

All five offensive linemen played every snap (63/63) in this game. It was the first time all season that had happened.

Week 9: BYE

Week 10 at NYG: Peters, Opeta, Kelce, Pryor, Johnson

After the bye week, Johnson returned to the starting lineup, which meant Mailata went back to the bench. The Eagles decided to stick with their aging left tackle in Peters. The surprise of the week, though, was that Opeta had taken over for Herbig at left tackle. It seemed like Herbig had played fairly well. But he had also injured his finger/hand and it was thought that the injury played a role in his being behind Opeta and Pryor.

While it was a different lineup than in Week 8, all five of those guys played all 67 snaps against the Giants in Week 10.

Week 11 at CLE: Peters, Seumalo, Kelce, Pryor, Johnson

After missing seven games with a knee injury and surgery, Seumalo returned off of IR and was plugged back into his spot at left guard. That sent Opeta to the bench. But the Eagles kept Pryor at right guard. After the game, Doug Pederson confirmed that Herbig, who was inactive, had simply fallen behind Opeta and Pryor on the depth chart.

During this game, things got a little wild. Peters and Johnson left early, which meant Mailata went to left tackle and Driscoll went to right tackle. But after Driscoll got hurt, Pryor went to right tackle and Opeta filled in at right guard.

Even Kelce left the game for four snaps and UDFA Luke Juriga filled in.

Week 12 vs. SEA: Mailata, Seumalo, Kelce, Peters, Pryor

Before this game, Johnson informed reporters that he was done for the season after his ankle basically collapsed and would need another surgery. Not great. And with Driscoll hobbled by a right ankle injury, Pryor got the start at right tackle. Meanwhile, the Eagles finally made the decision to move Peters back to right guard and get Mailata back at left tackle.

The Eagles thought Peters would move better inside but getting an extended look at Mailata was the biggest move here. He has played very well since this switch.

Week 13 at GB: Mailata, Seumalo, Kelce, Peters, Driscoll

The only switch from the previous week was that Driscoll, the 4th-rounder from Auburn, was back in the lineup after his right ankle was good enough to go. Pryor didn’t have a very good game at right tackle against the Seahawks so getting Driscoll back was an improvement.

Week 14 vs. NOR: Mailata, Seumalo, Kelce, Herbig, Driscoll

The big news before the Saints game was that Peters decided to shut it down for the season and finally have surgery on his toe, an injury that had been lingering for a while. Peters left the Packers game after just 36 snaps and they might have been his final snaps as an Eagle and possibly as an NFL player.

With Herbig back at RG for Peters and with Jalen Hurts at quarterback, the Eagles didn’t surrender a single sack for just the second time all season. This line looked pretty good.

Week 15 at ARZ: Mailata, Seumalo, Kelce, Herbig, Pryor

All five starters played every snap against the Saints, but the Eagles still couldn’t run back the same lineup. The latest news is that Driscoll has an MCL injury. He played through it against the Saints but is now out for the season.

Doug Pederson this week confirmed that Pryor is back at right tackle; the Eagles don’t really have many options. Either way, the Eagles were guaranteed to have a different starting OL in Week 15 because every other person who has started a game on the OL this season for them is on Injured Reserve.

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