‘We Just Kept Scoring Touchdowns’
Backup OL Helps Pave Way For Rushing TD Onslaught In Conference Title Game
PHILADELPHIA – Like most backups on the Eagles, second-year offensive lineman Tyler Steen is programmed to prepare like a starter.
In Steen’s world, it’s a mindset that’s been instilled by offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland, whose resume boasts a growing rolodex of reserve linemen primed to capably be plugged into play.
Prior to Sunday’s NFC Championship game against Washington, when an unflappable Steen put that mindset into action by starting at left guard, the most relevant example would be when the Eagles traveled to the Superdome in Week 2 to play the New Orleans Saints.
Steen played 58 snaps in the game in relief of Mekhi Becton, showcasing power, lateral quickness and the athleticism to adequately climb to the second level.
Two weeks later against the Giants he’d again replace Becton after another early exit – and the Eagles rushed for 269 yards.

GETTY IMAGES: RG Mekhi Becton (77) and RT Lane Johnson (65) celebrate with Saquon Barkley after a rushing TD.
Fast-forward now to Sunday’s game at Lincoln Financial Field, with everything on the line.
Steen, who had repped at left guard some last week with center Cam Jurgens sidelined by a back injury and left guard Landon Dickerson sliding over, was repping alongside left tackle Jordan Mailata during warm-ups.
The sight of Steen working with the first-team, of course, didn’t bode well for Jurgens’ status.
Jurgens, who underwent an extensive pregame warm-up presided over by Stoutland and head trainer Tom Hunkele, would afterward engage in a brief chat with general manager Howie Roseman before seemingly scaling things back and becoming a spectator, suggesting he was destined to be among the game day inactives.
Jurgens, though, didn’t appear on the inactive list. Confusing matters further is that Jurgens, along with Dickerson and Steen, were announced as starters.
But it was Dickerson who ultimately got the nod, with Steen at left guard. Jurgens was relegated to a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency role.
“It felt good, just getting an opportunity to go out there and play,” Steen said. “Just preparation and throughout the week and stuff like that and going out there and trying to execute felt good.”
Steen, a 2023 third-round pick, was widely viewed as the front-runner to start at right guard in training camp, with Jurgens moving over to his natural position.
Steen’s progress would be hindered by an ankle injury, opening the door for Becton, the intriguing reclamation project, to make an impression.
Steen couldn’t make up enough ground to ward off Becton, but rather than sulk, Steen handled his demotion with grace and perspective, embracing the challenging and focusing on continuous improvement.
The results speak for itself, as Steen again proved the value of practice reps ahead of his most critical battle.
“Just getting those reps allowed me to be a little bit more comfortable out there when we go out there and playing,” he said. “I think it worked out pretty well.”
That’s not to say there weren’t some early hiccups, such as a false start penalty and an apparent miscommunication with Dickerson on the Frankie Luvu sack, but as the game wore on and the tandem compiled more reps working alongside one another, the cohesion was evident.
“It was a little different, just because Landon hasn’t played too much center this year,” Steen said. “And so, going in and just that communication aspect of it … and then it was definitely some miscommunication early in the game and I think he was able to get better as the game went on.
“So, just going through that and knowing that that was a possibility and then getting past it and going to the next play I think was big.”
Steen, who played all 71 snaps, epitomized the team’s “next man up” mentality, again showcasing preparation and steady progression, on-field reps notwithstanding.
In a gutsy performance, Steen proved to be a key piece to an Eagles offensive line that paved the way for 229 yards on the ground and seven rushing touchdowns.
On rookie Will Shipley’s first career touchdown, Steen paved the way.
To the untrained eye, it would’ve been easy to mistake Steen as the starter – just the way Stoutland drew it up.
“That’s crazy,” Steen said of the offensive onslaught. “I mean, we just kept scoring touchdowns. I didn’t know how it was happening, but it was happening. So, that was crazy. Pretty good performance.”
– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.