‘They Haven’t Started Their Offensive Line Healthy’

Head coaching legend Dick Vermeil believes the Philadelphia Eagles’ struggles on the offensive line can be traced to one main thing – the offensive line.

The offensive line has been banged up throughout the 2025 season, with star tackle Lane Johnson recently suffering a Lisfranc injury that has landed him on injured reserve. In other words, he’ll be out for a minimum of four games.

That’s not even mentioning how the other offensive linemen such as center Cam Jurgens and left guard Landon Dickerson have battled ailments that have prevented the offensive line from being fully healthy this season. Jurgens has suited up in eight of the teams’ 12 games, while Dickerson has suited up in nine of the 12 games.

It has resulted in the Eagles’ offensive unit ranking in the bottom half of the league in multiple categories. Philadelphia ranks 25th in total yards, 28th in passing and 29th in third-down conversion rate. They also rank 17th in rushing yards after Saquon Barkley posted a historic year with a 2,000-yard season.

The Eagles’ offensive unit ranks 16th overall in scoring.

Vermeil coached the Eagles for seven seasons (1976-1982), leading them to the playoffs four times and an appearance in Super Bowl XV. He says the key for the Eagles to operate to their full potential is the health of the offensive line.

“I would say number one is to get healthy,” Vermeil says in a one-on-one interview of the key for the Eagles to reach their potential. “They have to get healthy. If they get the offensive line — everybody, everything — starts with the quality of your offensive line in regard to determining the quality of your offense. They haven’t started their full offensive line hardly all year healthy.

“Now they lose the right tackle in Johnson until maybe playoff time,” Vermeil continues. “So it’s been the left guard, it’s been the center, it’s been the right tackle. They haven’t been together. It’s very hard to be the unit you ought to be within those circumstances. That’s all there is to it. I think that’s the big thing.”

The criticism towards the Eagles have been heavy, with Jalen Hurts facing adversity due to recents reports that indicate teammates are unhappy with his unwillingness to take shots down the field.

It also doesn’t help that A.J. Brown has been very public in his displeasure with his role in the offense, with the three-time Pro Bowl receiver going to social media to express his unhappiness. Through the first 10 games this season, Brown is averaging just 44.6 receiving yards per game on a 58.5% catch rate. Those are career lows.

He has just 38 catches for 457 yards after posting 67 catches for 1,079 yards in 13 games last season.

While the Eagles may not be perfect, the reality is they’re still 8-2 and hold the best record in the NFC. The wins haven’t been pretty, with Philadelphia scoring a combined total of just 26 points in wins over the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.

Vermeil says the bottom line is, every team is giving the Eagles their best shot considering they’re the defending world champs.

“The thing is, when people play the past world champions, they play them better,” says Vermeil. “They play better, they prepare better, they’re more ready to play emotionally game day because they’re playing against the best, and they want to be able to say they beat the world champions. And it makes it tough.”

Vermeil also mentions that it’s because Philadelphia just isn’t as good as they were last season when they suffered just one loss after Week 4 and stream-rolled through the competition in the playoffs.

The Super Bowl champion-winning head coach does say that once the Eagles get healthy when the playoffs come around, they could start to become real dangerous again.

“You could call it a struggle, and they’re just not as good as they were last year,” says Vermeil of this year’s Eagles. “They spoiled us, and I operate giving the defensive teams they’ve had to face more credit for slowing them down, rather than saying the Eagles aren’t as good. Those two defensive teams did a real good job on them, and I think we tend to overlook that, and we want to blame the offense for not playing well, but I think they’re right in the hunt the way the defense is playing now. I’m confident the offense will get healthier and better, and they will be and when they get to the playoffs, all hell could break loose.”

Dick Vermeil Receiving Community Partner Of The Year Award Through Salvation Army

The 89-year-old coaching great is still keeping busy these days as he’ll receive the Community Partner of the Year award on behalf of The Salvation Army Trenton Corps. Vermeil is receiving the award due to the work he does off the field with helping and empowering young people.

“When you have a name that’s recognizable, you get more honors and honors you really don’t deserve,” says Vermeil while poking fun at himself. “They have the banquet there in the Trenton Country Club, which is going to be very nice. My wife is going, and my neighbors are going to this, gotta get dressed up and go do it right. I know they’re doing it right, for all the good reasons to raise money for Salvation Army and all the good things they do. I’m pleased that they’re using me to help raise money.”

Vermeil details how much The Salvation Army helps those in need and how it’s an honor for him to be partnered with them for the first time in his life.

“We all know that we’re very fortunate to live as we live, and we all know there’s a lot of people that struggle to live as they ought to live,” says Vermeil. “I think Salvation Army does a real good job of trying to look after those people in need that aren’t as fortunate as I am, and maybe you and other people that are very stable financially. It’s a good thing. They run a very efficient organization too. They don’t take a lot of money for their own use in their own salaries. They work with their hearts more than their pocketbook.”