Line Change

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles’ offensive line will look considerably different Sunday in London than it did to start the season.

Lining up at right tackle is expected to be rookie Markel Bell, presumably next in line to assume the reins in light of Lane Johnson’s retirement.

But the Eagles will also have a newly entrenched left guard, as the team on Wednesday traded center Cam Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.

“We weren’t looking to move Cam,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Wednesday. “Obviously, the Ravens have been looking for a center. They lost three centers. I speak to Eric [DeCosta] a lot. Originally, kind of told him it wasn’t anything we were looking to do. Over the last 24 hours, it got to the point where we felt like it could be a win-win; for them, obviously, getting a player who’s been a two-time Pro Bowl center for us.

“And obviously for us, being able to get the picks we’re able to get and use that money also to sign players. Had a chance to watch Drew [Kendall] here play center. He’s doing a nice job, have a young player there. I think for us, when you talk about the two and the five, moving from the seventh to the fifth, we’ve had success in the fifth-round, plus the money, plus Drew playing, we felt like we were getting four players for one. And just felt like for us, with all these guys that we got coming up – a lot on the defensive side of the ball that we want to re-sign and wanna extend – felt like that was a good situation for us.”

ITB PHOTO: Cam Jurgens’ sudden trade to Baltimore opens the door for Willie Lampkin to make his pro debut.

Jurgens on Monday self-reported concussion symptoms and is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol, unlikely to suit up Sunday when the Ravens travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons.

The past year has been a whirlwind for Jurgens, 27, who valiantly battled through a back injury in 2024 through the Eagles’ Super Bowl run and underwent surgery shortly after the team returned to Philadelphia as world champions. Gutsy performances from Jurgens, along with fellow linemate Landon Dickerson, catalyzed a playoff run that featured a series of highlight reel runs from running back Saquon Barkley.

But as Jurgens worked his way back during the 2025 season, it was evident the Eagles’ 2022 second-round pick wasn’t operating at full strength.

During the 2026 offseason, Jurgens traveled to Medellin for stem cell treatment, a measure to ensure he explored every option to return as healthy as possible for 2026.

“When you go through a season, you get a lot of wear and tear, and that’s kind of how the NFL is and it’s always tough going in, like after the Super Bowl getting back surgery, and you don’t really get that offseason,” Jurgens said back on June 12. “That’s always a tough thing when you get surgery. It’s like you don’t get an offseason and you’re just rehabbing and then you’re going right into the next season and then you’re trying to rehab, you’re trying to get through things.

“But yeah, it’s so nice to have a full offseason like this year. But yeah, I play in the NFL, they pay me money, and so, I’m going to do everything I can to get my body right, thought that’s a great option for us. Talked to a lot of guys around the league and so many people have used stem cells and I’ve noticed such a good change since I’ve been down there.”

Jurgens did, in fact, return healthy and there was reason for encouragement based off of training camp performance.

When three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson landed on injured reserve following the Eagles’ 24-22 Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders, it was Jurgens – not second-year pro Drew Kendall – inserted as his replacement. Kendall, of course, replaced Jurgens at center.

While Kendall is now entrenched as a starter, presumably at center from this point forward, the attention turns to who steps in at left guard. First up is likely to be second-year pro Willie Lampkin, who cross-trained at center and guard this summer.

Lampkin, 5-foot-11, 290 pounds, impressed with his leverage, technique and powerful base while operating almost exclusively with the second unit.

Behind Lampkin the interior depth is thin, with only rookie sixth-round pick Micah Morris, an intriguing – and massive – developmental player filling out the depth chart.

For the Eagles’ young group of offensive linemen, whom Roseman two months ago expressed excitement about, the future is now.

“I don’t know if we talked about this before camp, but certainly if any of you would’ve given me a truth serum and said, ‘What are you looking for in training camp?’ it would be how our interior offensive line depth panned out and the way that Drew, Willie, and then obviously Micah, keeping Micah,” Roseman said.

“Those young guys and the growth that they showed, their ability to play in the passing game, in the run game. I mean, really, really excited about those guys, about being able to have those guys, being able to develop those guys, but at the same time, have confidence that if those guys need to play, that they’re ready to play.

“I was saying it, our interior O-Line depth, it was kind of in a different spot than it had been in years past, relying on some young guys to take a step. A lot of credit to [offensive line] Coach [Chris] Kuper and the guys around him for getting these guys ready to go. Feel like we’re in a really good spot there and it was a concern going into camp. So, excited about those guys and I think you guys watch it and you see that they all have a potential to come in and play at a high level.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com