Drew Kendall’s job replacing Landon Dickerson on Eagles O-line would be to ‘make sure we don’t skip a beat’

Drew Kendall was talking last Thursday about his rise on the depth chart from his rookie season last year, when he was a deep reserve, to the start of a 2026 season that had him as a primary backup, and the Eagles interior offensive lineman noted that nothing would really change.

Kendall, a fifth-round pick last year, got on the field for seven games last season. And after a standout summer that had him cross training at both guard and center, Kendall said his game day approach would be the same, though the chances of playing were much greater.

“I was usually the second guy in, but this year is different,” he said. “I’ll be the next guy in. So I’m just excited to be there for my guys if they need me and go out there and make sure we don’t skip a beat.”

» READ MORE: Eagles to place guard Landon Dickerson on injured reserve, will miss at least four games

It was hypothetical then, but four days later, it’s likely his job.

The Eagles are placing left guard Landon Dickerson on injured reserve, sources told The Inquirer on Monday, and Dickerson will miss at least the next four games with a knee injury. The veteran lineman struggled Sunday during the Eagles’ 24-22 win over Washington after a 2025 season that was marred by inconsistent play while battling through multiple injuries.

Kendall is expected to be Dickerson’s replacement, but it remains to be seen if the Eagles opt to reconfigure their front and put Kendall at center while sliding Cam Jurgens to guard. Kendall was a center in college while Jurgens played his first season as a starter in the NFL at right guard. Willie Lampkin is also in the mix for more playing time, though Kendall likely gets the first shot.

Kendall was one of a few bottom-of-the-depth-chart players who stood out this summer. He said last month that he worked hard during the offseason on his body and “put on weight in good ways and shed weight in bad ways.” The offseason program and training camp put that transformation and what he learned last year as a rookie — “rookie year is always the long one,” he said last week, “but I learned from a lot of the great guys here” — to the test.

The Eagles put a lot on Kendall’s plate, putting him at both guard and center during camp and in preseason games.

“I really embrace that,” Kendall said last month. “I’m about that as a guy and as a player. It’s never fun to take the easy way out. You want to come over some things.”

There were adjustments to make.

“I’d say the biggest thing was, one, there’s just a little more space,” Kendall said last week. “And then two, it’s just getting confidence, and that comes with repetition, just doing it day after day and just building on top of things that you’re doing.”

He credited offensive line coach Chris Kuper as well as the starting guards, Dickerson and right guard Tyler Steen, with helping him learn new techniques.

» READ MORE: Murphy: This better not be the new normal for the Eagles offensive line

Dickerson, Kendall said, has been “super helpful.”

“He’s one of the smartest guys I’ve been around, so just giving me tips and different tools that I can add to my game has been very valuable,” Kendall said.

He also may lean on his father, Pete, who was a guard in the NFL from when he was a first-round pick in 1996 until he retired in 2008. Kendall made a rule of sorts to not talk so much football with his dad, who coached him for most of his life, when he went to Boston College. Though Kendall did occasionally break the pact by sending clips to Pete in search of tips.

Pete was among more than a dozen family and friends Kendall had on hand last month when the Eagles went to New England for joint practices.

“I think he enjoys seeing me at guard because that’s what he played mostly so I think it’s fun for him,” Kendall said. “I just know that he loves football so anytime he can come watch me play it makes his day.”

Kendall started last year’s meaningless Week 18 game when the Eagles rested their starters. He is in line to make his second career start when the Eagles play on the road at Tennessee on Sunday. The Eagles’ new-look offensive scheme could be a benefit to Kendall. Boston College was did some wide zone running when Kendall was there, though it mostly was from the shotgun.

“It’s a great way to run an offense in general, but I think it definitely showcases my abilities more than other offenses for sure,” Kendall said.

» READ MORE: Cooper DeJean’s first game in his new role with the Eagles ‘wasn’t good enough’

General manager Howie Roseman said after cutting the roster down to 53 spots two weeks ago that “if any of you would’ve given me a truth serum” before training camp, “how our interior offensive line depth panned out” was a worry.

“Feel like we’re in a really good spot there and it was a concern going into camp,” Roseman said.

His words soon will be put to the test.

Inquirer staff writer Jeff McLane contributed reporting.