Lane Johnson says the Eagles expect to use Saquon Barkley like they did in 2024, with a bigger receiving role

Right tackle Lane Johnson believes the Eagles’ offseason emphasis is moving the offense toward a familiar kind of production from Saquon Barkley, specifically one that is not limited to traditional runs. In commentary tied to Philadelphia’s preparations, Johnson indicated that the team is planning ways to get Barkley the ball in space, including as a receiver, as the Eagles continue acclimating to a new offensive approach.

Philadelphia’s plan, as described in reporting from a Wednesday joint practice, was supported by on-field work against the New England Patriots that included offensive coordinator Sean Mannion calling plays for the starting offense. Joint practices like these are often treated as practical dress rehearsals, less about final game scripting and more about how coaches translate their concepts into timing, alignments, and decision-making.

The most notable theme from Johnson’s remarks was usage. He suggested one of Barkley’s roles this season will involve catching passes, not just carrying the football. That change in packaging matters because it can alter how defenses split attention in run-and-pass situations, forcing linebackers and safeties to account for the same player across multiple threats.

Johnson also connected the receiving usage to the broader ceiling he expects from Barkley. In the same discussion, Johnson expressed belief that feeding Barkley the ball in that way gives him a realistic path to return to the 2024 level of impact that earned him league Offensive Player of the Year honors. Rather than treating that award as a one-time anomaly, Johnson framed it as something the offense can create again through role design and play-calling.

Barkley’s dual-threat profile is one reason the Eagles’ early-season offensive identity is being watched closely. When a running back can function as a legitimate receiving option, it tends to expand route combinations, increase completions out of designed screens and check-downs, and put more pressure on coverage rules. Even without changing the run game’s fundamentals, the threat of a pass play to the same runner can keep defenses from settling into a single defensive posture.

For now, the most accurate takeaway is directional, not final. The joint-practice setting provided a glimpse into how Mannion and the offense were trying to operate with the starters, and Johnson’s comments offered a clear representation of how Philadelphia wants to deploy Barkley’s skill set. As training camp turns into preseason games and then the regular season, the key question will be whether the Eagles can turn those early usage intentions into consistent targets and touches under live-game tempo, and whether defenses react the way Johnson expects.