Nick Sirianni Concerned as Lane Johnson and Two Key Eagles Suffer Serious Injuries in Win Over Buccaneers

The Philadelphia Eagles may have left Tampa with a 31-23 win over the Buccaneers, but the victory came at a steep cost. Three key players were forced to exit the game with injuries, raising serious concerns for head coach Nick Sirianni and his staff.

Right tackle Lane Johnson left the contest in the third quarter with a shoulder injury after being replaced by Fred Johnson. It marked the second straight week that the six-time Pro Bowler has exited early, having suffered a stinger in the Week 3 win over the Rams. His availability moving forward is now in question.

Adding to the concern, Tyler Steen, the starting right guard, went down in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. Though he later returned for the second half, his early exit underscored the fragility of the offensive line.

On the defensive side, Jalen Carter also limped off in the third quarter with a shoulder issue. While he managed to return late in the fourth, the incident put added strain on Philadelphia’s defensive line rotation, which was already thin with Nolan Smith on IR and Ogbo Okoronkwo ruled out.

Head coach Nick Sirianni admitted after the game that the injuries cast a shadow over the victory. “We love the way our guys battled tonight, but of course we’re concerned. Lane means so much to this team, and losing him even for a short time is tough. Same goes for the other guys — these are players we rely on. We’ll evaluate, but our mindset is next man up while we get them healthy,” Sirianni said.

Despite the setback, the Eagles improved to 4-0, staying perfect on the season. But as they look ahead, the health of Johnson, Steen, and Carter looms as one of the biggest storylines. Depth will be tested, and Sirianni knows the road won’t get any easier if his stars remain sidelined.