When Brandon Brooks tore his Achilles in June, it made sense to bring back Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters to fill his spot. Even playing in a different role, you’d trust a future Hall of Famer at any position on the line.

Then, when Andre Dillard was ruled out for the season with a torn biceps, we all figured that Peters would slide over to his natural left tackle spot, and Matt Pryor, who played right guard in recent years, would take Brooks’ position… right?

Not originally. Peters reportedly asked for more money to go back over to left tackle, resulting the Eagles playing a right guard at left tackle and a left tackle at right guard, which was certainly a head-scratcher of a situation. Luckily, it won’t carry into Sunday’s season opener, because Peters is going to make the jump after all, and go back to the position he’s played his entire life.

Here’s the exchange from Doug Pederson’s Zoom call:

Q. We’re six days before the season opener. Who is your starting left tackle? Is it still a fluid situation and if you can give us an update on (free agent) Cordy Glenn, if he were to come in, would you be comfortable with a guy coming in who has not been here and putting him in the starting lineup that quickly? (Rob Maaddi)

Doug Pederson: As it relates to Cordy Glenn, obviously I won’t comment too much on him. He did come in for a workout. He did well, and I’ll leave it at that.

As it pertains to our left tackle, I can actually share some news with you that Jason Peters came into my office this morning and he has decided to slide over to left tackle. Listen, this is the unselfishness; this is who he is.

When we talk about guys and we talk specifically about Jason Peters, this is who he is. He sacrifices not only his body, but for the football team. He did an outstanding job for us at right guard. It was valuable experience for him to play over there on the right side and get some interior work, but as he looks at not only where we are but where he is, he came in today and he was excited to move to left tackle and so I can announce that. I’m thrilled to death.

Q. As a follow-up to that, is G/T Matt Pryor now the right guard and what does it do for the offensive line knowing that you have Jason Peters at left tackle? (Zach Berman)

Pederson: First of all, we have to get JP caught up. He is comfortable there, but we’ve got to get him caught up, back with the terminology and working with Isaac again and all that. That’s kind of the first thing.

At right guard, Matt Pryor is an option there. We do have some other younger players. I mean, (Nate) Herbig has been working in there. (Jack) Driscoll has been working in there. We’ve got some options at the right guard position. But with this move with Jason Peters, it really kind of solidifies that left side for us and really puts us in a little bit better position moving forward.

According to reports, Peters did not have his contract reworked. He’s currently earning a little more than $3 million this season.


Also thought it was pretty funny that Pederson said they need to get Peters “caught up,” like he hasn’t been playing left tackle his entire life. He’s played next to Isaac Seumalo for two seasons and he knows the offense, obviously, so there’s very little to get “caught up” on.

And Pryor makes the most sense at right guard, since he filled that position in recent years, twice when Brooks was unavailable via injury.

That means the Eagles’ line looks like this:

  • LT – Peters
  • LG – Seumalo
  • C – Jason Kelce
  • RG – it’ll be Pryor
  • RT – Lane Johnson

That’s a good line, as long as Peters can stay on the field. Andre Dillard isn’t there to back him up, so if they lose another body, it gets a bit dicey (unless they sign Glenn).