Lane Johnson on Eagles: ‘I think we’ll be as dangerous as we can be’

It is hardly an accident that the Philadelphia Eagles approached the offseason as a team adding specific parts to what they already saw as a strong contender.

That’s reflected in the offseason additions of running back Jordan Howard and wide receiver DeSean Jackson (for his second stint with the Eagles) on offense and tackle Malik Jackson and linebacker Zach Brown on defense.

‘I feel like we have a good team, as far as talent-wise’

Additionally, the Eagles looked to the future by making former Washington State offensive tackle Andre Dillard as first-round draft pick as the eventual replacement for Jason Peters.

“From my perspective, being around a few good teams, I think we’re in a good place. So it’s just really getting the chemistry going here in OTAs.”

“I feel like we’re established, I feel like we have a good team, as far as talent-wise,” offensive tackle Lane Johnson told Lance Medow and Charlie Weis on The Opening Drive. “We get (guard) Brandon Brooks back in the in the lineup (from a torn Achilles) Week One, I think we’ll will be as dangerous as we can be. I mean, obviously we have to go put the work in. But from my perspective, being around a few good teams, I think we’re in a good place. So it’s just really getting the chemistry going here in OTAs and hit the ground running in training camp, and I think we’ll be a really good team this year.”

‘You can’t win the Lombardi right now in May’

A huge key to that, of course, is the health of quarterback Carson Wentz, who is returning from a back injury that sidelined him late last season. Johnson is encouraged that Wentz will be back to top form, even though the team’s medical staff is taking a cautious approach to his recovery.

“Rehab’s going well, I think he’s feeling good,” Johnson said. “So we’re just kind of holding back the reins in offseason. You can’t win the Lombardi right now in May, so we’re just biding our time until training camp and push him along gradually. But I know he’s ready to hit the field and, as far as his rehab process, he’s doing everything necessary and looking good.”

‘We took a lot of heat early on, losing games, and I think it showed our sense of urgency as a team’

Johnson thinks, after the hits they took last year with Wentz’s injury and injuries that wiped out most of the secondary, the Eagles are ready to show what they’re truly all about.

“We took a lot of heat early on, losing games, and I think it showed our sense of urgency as a team,” he said. “And whenever we get disrespected or talked down on, I think we have a lot of the guys in the locker room that want to do something about it. But far as the front office is concerned, that’s kind of been the energy the past few years. They realize what kind of core talent we have here, the group of players we have, and knowing that we’re in the running and should be in the running every year if we’re playing up to our ability.”