Eagles Have Faith In Fred Johnson To Replace Jordan Mailata

Since the 2021 season, Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata has become the next great player protecting the blindside of the city's quarterbacks.

His latest hamstring injury, though, will provide some concern for both the team and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

For an offense heavily predicated on trust, the Eagles will now turn to veteran backup Fred Johnson to keep the offense afloat for the next couple of weeks while Mailata remains out.

An undrafted free agent out of Florida, Johnson spent time in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, he joins a team with playoff aspirations that he can help them reach.

It's why his mantra even before Mailata's injury was the same.

"Prepare to start. If you don’t start, cool, I prepared to start, so if you end up going in, you’re prepared mentally," Johnson said. "The New Orleans game [when Johnson started for injured RT Lane Johnson] was the first time it happened for me. We executed, so you prepare to start, prepare for the moment, prepare for any waves of emotions that come, and the one emotion that wins is positivity and go out and win this game."

This won't be the first time Johnson is seen on the field for the Eagles. During the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 27-year-old was forced into the right tackle position with Lane Johnson dealing with a concussion.

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Despite being able to play both tackle spots, Johnson does have a preference. And it's the position he's going to start on Sunday for the Birds.

"Left tackle is definitely more natural than right and that’s because I’ve been there most all of camp," Johnson said. "It’s definitely a position I like. I left or right, but it’s definitely a more natural position."