Be honest. You weren't ready for this either.
Lane Johnson came back to camp this week and basically told everyone that 2026 is probably it. Year 14. The last ride. He said the priorities away from football are "starting to merge," which is the most graceful way anyone has ever said "I'm tired of getting hit by 280-pound men for your entertainment."
And look. He's earned it. Nobody's mad.
But also. I am absolutely not emotionally prepared for an Eagles offense without Lane Johnson at right tackle. That man has been the one constant through everything. Quarterback controversies. Coaching changes. The Super Bowl. The other Super Bowl. Every "blow it up" and "we're so back" cycle since 2013.
Lane Johnson has never once been the problem.
Do you know how rare that is in this city? We've turned on literally everyone at some point. Franchise legends. Championship coaches. Guys who won us a parade. Not Lane. Fourteen years and the worst thing anyone's ever said about him is nothing. There is nothing.
So yeah. Every home game this season just became an event. Get to the Linc early. Appreciate the man.
The silver lining, because we always need one: the rookie, Markel Bell, took first-team reps while Lane was out and apparently didn't embarrass himself. Third-round pick holding his own at camp. I'm not saying he's the heir. I'm saying I've already convinced myself he's the heir, because that's what we do here.
Season opens against Washington. Division game right out of the gate. Absolutely no chance that's a calm, low-stress afternoon.
Meanwhile, in South Philly
The Phillies took care of the Nats 6-3 and continue to hover in that very specific Phillies zone where they're good enough to make October and stressful enough to ruin your entire September getting there.
63-56. Second in the division. Chasing the wild card because Atlanta decided to be a problem again.
Some notes from the group chat:
Schwarber woke up. Two homers in that Toronto game, drought over, everyone acting like they never doubted him. (We all doubted him. Out loud. Repeatedly.)
Derek Hill hit a walk-off and CBP did the thing where 40,000 people simultaneously forget every bad thing that's ever happened to them.
Luis Arráez is here now and he simply does not strike out, which is a fun new experience for a lineup that treats two-strike counts like a personal challenge.
The less fun news: Brad Keller's on the IL with a torn UCL, and there's noise about Nola's health heading into the stretch. Bullpen anxiety in August. Tradition unlike any other.
46-ish games left. Wild card path. October baseball at the Bank is on the table.
We might be fine.
We are probably not fine.
We are going to watch every single pitch either way.
