ThePhiladelphia Eagles don't need to win their preseason finale
. Frankly, if they don't, it will be forgotten in an hour, and fans and the media will fast-forward their thoughts to roster construction. If they don't dominate the Cincinnati Bengals, all will be forgiven if they begin the regular season by winning. They don't need to unveil Sean Mannion's offense. They don't need five touchdown passes or for any of the key players to take snaps.What they need is far simpler. They need to reach Week 1 healthy. That objective may sound boring compared to discussions about quarterback play, roster battles, or offensive identity. Then again, that could be the most important battle the Eagles face before the regular season begins. Nowhere is that more
true than along the offensive line.
The Eagles have been carefully managing their offensive line
For much of training camp, Philadelphia has taken a cautious approach with several key linemen. Landon Dickerson received maintenance days. He and Lane Johnson were healthy enough to play in the open practice, but the former rested while the latter exited early in the session. Johnson watched the rest of the show from the sideline
Neither development appears overly concerning on its own. Dickerson returned to work a day later. So did Johnson. Still, the reminders have been impossible to ignore.
The Eagles know exactly how quickly offensive-line depth can be tested. Last season, Cam Jurgens spent much of the year battling through physical issues. Dickerson dealt with injuries. Johnson's age naturally raises questions about workload management, even if he continues to play at an elite level when healthy.
The good news is that Philadelphia has largely avoided major setbacks throughout camp. The better news is that several key players appear to be entering the season in significantly better condition than they were a year ago.
Cam Jurgens may be the biggest positive sign.
One of the most encouraging developments of camp came from Jurgens. The Pro Bowl center recently told reporters he feels "in a lot better spot" than he did entering last season, when he was still dealing with the aftermath of back surgery and the physical challenges that followed. That's certainly promising news.
Jurgens sits at the center of Sean Mannion's new offense, both literally and figuratively. New terminology, new protections, and new communication responsibilities all flow through him. The Eagles can adapt to plenty of challenges. Losing stability in the middle of the offensive line would be much harder to overcome, though some added depth pieces who have come along make the prospect less scary.
That's why Philadelphia has spent much of the summer playing something resembling musical chairs up front. Coaches have rotated backups, managed workloads, and prioritized availability over results in August.
The strategy may not generate headlines, but it reflects a larger reality. The Eagles believe they can contend if their offensive line is intact. The preseason finale will provide one final opportunity for younger players to earn jobs and coaches to gather information. Beyond that, however, the primary objective remains unchanged.
So again, no, the Eagles don't need to win a preseason game. They need to win the race to Week 1 with their offensive line standing upright. If they accomplish that, they may already have secured one of the most important victories of the summer.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ biggest goal against Bengals is reaching Week 1 fully healthy
