PHILADELPHIA — With 10 days left to prove it, Lane Johnson insisted Friday that his injured groin will not be an issue in the Super Bowl.
Since the All-Pro right tackle played in both Eagles playoff games, that was not a dramatic revelation. But he had seemed to limp at times in the NFC championship game victory over the San Francisco 49ers, and almost certainly will require postseason surgery.
So in a game of such gravity, one sore groin from one great player will remain an issue until kickoff next Sunday evening against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’s better now,” Johnson said. “That first game was going to be a challenge. And honestly that second game was a challenge. But the first game, for me, personally was a challenge.”
Johnson was injured in a Week 16 loss to Dallas, missed two games, then returned to practice in time to face the New York Giants in the first round of the playoffs.
“The (Giants) game for me was hard, really hard, because I wasn’t sure I could play,” Johnson said. “But after that initial contact, I was good. I had better confidence in the second round.”
At this point, Johnson says he will play with some pain, but he was willing to delay surgery until after the Eagles’ complete their postseason.
“It is what it is,” he said, “but it is not bothering me to the extent it was earlier.”
Johnson has been told the injury is similar to those that often trouble hockey players, and is more rare in football.
“As long as it stretches well, my body will heal in general,” he said. “Practice and rehab have been huge.”
Johnson has been in contact with Saints defensive lineman Cam Jordan, who had played through a similar injury.
“He pretty much said, ‘Good luck,’” Johnson said. “Then he said, ‘It’s going to hurt.’”
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When Jalen Hurts and the Eagles take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., it marks the first time two black quarterbacks start on the biggest stage.
“I think it’s something that’s worthy of being noted,” Hurts said. “It is history. It’s come a long way. I think there’s only been seven Africa-American quarterbacks to play in the Super Bowl. So, to be the first for something is pretty cool. I know it’ll be a good one.”
Hurts will join Donovan McNabb as the only black quarterbacks from the Eagles to play for the Lombardi Trophy. Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Doug Williams, the first black Super Bowl starter, all had Super Bowl wins. Cam Newton, Steve McNair and Colin Kaepernick are the other quarterbacks of color to start the world title game.
Hurts’ style is different from the others, although his running ability parallels Kaepernick. It’s not a coincidence the Eagles have one of the most formidable ground games in the league as Hurts stretches the field with his arm, legs and decision-making in the run, pass option part of the offense.
“I think every guy has a unique way of doing what they do,” said Hurts, who threw 22 TD passes and ran for 13 scores in the regular season. “You’re not going to turn on the TV and see everyone playing the game the same way. So, I don’t necessarily take pride in playing the game a certain way. I just take pride in being who I am. Everybody does it differently. Everyone has something different that makes them special and great. Just trying to go out there and play the game to win.
“And it’s always cool to be in history.”
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In the expected effort to manufacture a Super Bowl Week crisis, the Eagles’ offensive players have been asked repeatedly in recent days about the need to spread the opportunities around.
“On offense, everybody can’t get the ball on every play,” backup running back Boston Scott said. “So having that team chemistry, having that team synergy of guys knowing that is very important.”
In the 31-7 victory over the Niners, A.J. Brown only made four receptions.
“Our running game has been very good,” he said. “Now you have people coming at you and saying, ‘You’re not putting up the numbers.’ But you’ve got to watch the game and see how our offense, our offensive line and our running backs have been dominating.
“We’re just doing what it takes right now. You never know how the game is going to go. You just have to be prepared. So I am out there blocking or whatever the case may be.
“I really don’t care how it gets done once it gets done.”
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Eagles center Jason Kelce made light of online petitions to have his mother, Donna, participate in the opening coin flip along with himself and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
“I don’t know if she can flip a coin,” Kelce said. “To be quite honest, I’ve never seen her do it, but we can give her some coaching, I’m sure. That would be pretty cool, but I imagine the NFL has got some awesome options for that as well, so we’re getting enough publicity in this game that we don’t need to keep going that far.”
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Hard to argue with Brandon Graham’s assessment that the Eagles are more talented than the 2017-18 team that won the Super Bowl. Unless you’re Fletcher Cox, of course.
The defensive tackle sees several similarities in the personnel.
“We have different talent different ways,” Cox said. “We had elite receivers back then and we have elite receivers now. We had really good tight ends back then and we have really good tight ends now. It’s really hard to compare those two teams. There were so many different personalities; that’s the biggest thing. This team has personalities way different from the 2017 team. They are really good teams and the biggest thing about it is not only were they really good players, but really good dudes, like really good teammates, and I think that’s really the most important part of what got us to this point. Nobody in that locker room thinks they’re better than the next person.
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The NFL is rolling with the Pat Tillman option in honor of the late Arizona Cardinals safety who joined the Army Rangers after 911 and was killed in Afghanistan. Four Tillman Foundation scholars will serve as honorary captains at the game.
Tillman was a big-hitter who set the tone for the Cardinal defenses from 2000-01, as well as a patriot. Tillman was 27 when killed by friendly fire.
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Underrated nickel cornerback Avonte Maddox is hobbling again less than a week after returning to action.Maddox sat out the Friday practice while wearing a boot on his
Offensive linemen Landon Dickerson (elbow), Lane Johnson (groin) and Cam Jurgens (hip),along with defensive end Robert Quinn (foot) did not practice, either.
Punter Arryn Siposs practiced and held for kicks by Jake Elliott while punter Brett Kern watched.
