Eagles Suffer Pair of Brutal Injury Setbacks in Win Over Lions
The Philadelphia Eagles watched one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen walk off the field and not return when right offensive tackle Lane Johnson left a Week 11 game against the Detroit Lions with what appeared to be an unspecified lower body injury.
Then, they watched another of the NFL’s best offensive linemen leave and not return with center Cam Jurgens, who had missed the last 2 games.
Regardless, the Eagles still slugged it out against the Lions on the way to an ugly, 16-9 win to improve to 8-2. Injuries to Johnson and Jurgens took some of the enjoyment away from the victory, as it’s hard to see the Eagles repeating as Super Bowl champions without either one of those players.
“Lane Johnson with a slow walk to the Eagles’ locker room,” The NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo wrote on his official X account. “He’s battled a few ailments this season ….
Brett Toth came in to replace Jurgens. Fred Johnson came in to replace Lane Johnson.
It’s underlined bigger injury issues the Eagles have dealt with all season on the offensive line when it comes to their 5 projected starters.
“Here’s an underrated Eagles storyline that could explain Philadelphia’s offensive struggles: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen and Lane Johnson have played every offensive snap in just ONE game this season,” Philly Special’s Anthony DiBona wrote on his official X Account.
Johnson Could Be Nearing End of Career
Johnson, to be fair, is 35 years old and a 2-time Super Bowl champion in his 13th NFL season. He’s also playing on a 1-year, $25 million contract — a sign his career might be coming to an end soon.
“It feels like Lane Johnson might be getting to the point of his career that Jason Peters was at the end, where he’s still really good when he’s on the field, but injuries pull him off relatively frequently,” Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly wrote on X.
“Lane Johnson is a first ballot HOF and one of the best Eagles of all time,” Eagles fan Patrick Philly PMC wrote on his official X account. “But Father Time is undefeated. The Eagles need to find his replacement.”
Less than one week earlier, Johnson left a Monday Night Football win over the Green Bay Packers with an ankle injury and returned to the game.
“Nick Sirianni and Eagles players said Lane Johnson coming back in and battling through his ankle injury is inspiring and lifts everyone,” NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark wrote on his official X account on November 11. “They say it makes everyone stronger seeing that.”
Jurgens Struggled Before Leaving Game With Injury
Before Jurgens got hurt — another undisclosed injury — he appeared to be struggling to shake off the rust from missing the previous 2 games.
Jurgens signed a 4-year, $68 million contract extension in April but also underwent offseason back surgery after the Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX in February.
“Cam Jurgens is struggling in his return so far,” Birds 365 host John McMullen wrote on his official X account.
“Every game is getting a little better,” Jurgens told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane about his back surgery in October. “But it’s football. You go out there, don’t matter if you’re 100 (percent) or 60. Your play is your play.”
Vikings QB JJ McCarthy Doesn’t Hold Back After Facing Fan Backlash
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy would be the first to tell you that growth isn’t a linear journey — but Week 11 against the Chicago Bears was a new low for the 22-year-old quarterback.
McCarthy struggled with his accuracy for a second straight week in an eventual 19-17 loss to the Bears. He completed 16 of 32 passes for 150 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions late in the first half.
After sailing a pass over the head of Justin Jefferson in the third quarter, fans had reached their limit. McCarthy was met with a downpour of boos coming from fans in attendance at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Asked what went through his mind when he heard boos from fans in his home stadium, McCarthy admitted that they were not unwarranted.
“We got the greatest fans in the world, they expect a lot more out of us, rightfully so,” McCarthy said after the game. “It’s just a reminder to us that we better get going, better figure this out.”
#Vikings QB JJ McCarthy on hearing boo’s from the fans:
“We got the greatest fans in the world, they expect a lot more out of us. Rightfully so. It’s just a reminder to us that we better get going, better figure this out.”
JJ McCarthy Takes Blame for Worst Start as a Viking
GettyVikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy responded to what was the worst game of his young career.
Falling to 2-3 as a starter, McCarthy tallied his worst passer rating of his career of just 47.4.
A 10-play, 85-yard drive late in the game, capped by a 15-yard touchdown connection with Jordan Addison, salvaged what was largely an awful day for McCarthy.
However, that drive gave the Vikings the lead with 50 seconds left in regulation before the Bears returned the ball across midfield and sealed the game with a field goal as time expired.
While things seemed to click for McCarthy and the offense on that final drive, it’s not enough when seven of the eight other drives in the final three quarters of the game did not surpass two minutes of possession.
McCarthy took full blame for the struggles in his postgame news conference.
“I need to do a better job with my decision-making, accuracy — it needs to be better — and the overall execution of the offense. I need to be better on doing my job at a higher level,” he said.
‘We’re Sick of Losing:’ JJ McCarthy Gets Honest After Bears Loss
The Vikings, currently 4-6, have little margin of error if they want to play meaningful games in December.
McCarthy, who went 27-1 in college and had lost just three games since high school entering this season, addressed his handling of the unfamiliar feeling of losing through his first five games in the NFL.
“Adversity is one of the greatest things for growth. It can separate teams or bring them tighter together. This team is being brought tighter together,” he said, adding that the desire to succeed has helped the Vikings push past licking their wounds after a loss.
“We’re just sick of losing, we want wins every single week, and we’re just going to do everything we can to get those,” McCarthy added. “Adversity is inevitable in this league, I understand that coming into it. It’s just about how you respond.”
