The Philadelphia Eagles elevated tight end Zach Ertz and offensive tackle John Ojukwu from the practice squad ahead of their Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Both players were temporarily promoted, a move allowed twice per game under NFL rules, as the team looks to bolster depth for the international showdown.
This marks Ertz’s third and final elevation of the 2026 regular season. If the Eagles want him active beyond Sunday, they will need to sign him officially to the 53-man roster. Ertz’s snap count has fluctuated in recent weeks, especially with Dallas Goedert returning from injury. In Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, Ertz played 19 offensive snaps, about 38 percent of the total, while in Week 4 versus the Los Angeles Rams, his snaps dropped to 14, or 21 percent. The Eagles could have a crowded group of tight ends available, with Johnny Mundt and E.J. Jenkins also on the roster.
John Ojukwu’s promotion addresses the need for more offensive line depth. The Eagles’ projected starting lineup for Sunday includes Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Willie Lampkin and Tyler Steen at the guard spots, Jake Majors at center, and Markel Bell at right tackle. The backup offensive linemen listed are Fred Johnson, Micah Morris, and Ojukwu himself.
Johnson is expected to serve as the swing tackle, covering both the left and right tackle positions behind Mailata and Bell, while also potentially stepping in at guard if necessary. Ojukwu, who has more experience at tackle, saw 10 snaps at guard during the preseason. This versatility could make him useful in emergency situations on the interior line.
Meanwhile, Lane Johnson remains on the Eagles’ 53-player roster despite announcing his retirement earlier this week. The team has yet to officially move him to another list such as reserve/retired or reserve/left squad. According to a report by The Athletic, this delay relates to salary cap considerations. Johnson was due a $21.7 million option bonus this season, with about half already paid and the rest scheduled for December. The Eagles have the right to reclaim some of that money through forfeiture, but the bigger issue is the cap impact for 2027 and 2028.
One possible solution is placing Johnson on the left-squad list, which would clear a roster spot while preserving cap hits as a June 2 cut. Cap experts cited by The Athletic described the situation as requiring “accounting gymnastics,” a common phrase for managing complex salary cap issues. They also noted the team must handle forfeiture delicately due to Johnson’s stature and years of service. Comparisons were made to past retirements of Andrew Luck, Calvin Johnson, and Derek Carr, where teams took different approaches to resolving similar financial and cap challenges.
The Eagles’ moves ahead of the London game underline their balancing act between maintaining roster flexibility and managing salary cap constraints. The team’s decisions on Ertz and Ojukwu aim to prepare for the demands of a travel-heavy NFL schedule while keeping options open for their offensive personnel.
According to Yahoo Sports.
