The Eagles get DeSean Jackson and Lane Johnson back, then lose them again late in victory over Giants

The Eagles got right tackle Lane Johnson back from his ankle injury for Thursday night’s visit from the New York Giants, then lost him again to a knee injury in the fourth quarter.

DeSean Jackson’s return from a hamstring pull was similarly ill-fated; Jackson was a major factor early, but the Eagles put him back on a punt return with two minutes, two seconds remaining, he took a hit to the head from Corey Ballentine, and then, with Jackson lying on the turf and one leg bent awkwardly, Madre Harper piled on to cause what seemed to be a knee injury. Jackson was helped off the field and went to the locker room on a cart. Ballentine was penalized, giving the Eagles a 15-yard head start on their game-winning drive.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson had no injury information after the game. Defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway (bicep) and corner Craig James (hamstring) also left early.

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Earlier, the Eagles debuted their sixth different starting offensive line in seven games. The coaching staff decided to go with Sua Opeta at left guard, moving Nate Herbig to right guard.

Herbig has said he doesn’t care which side he plays on, but for a lot of linemen, it matters. Opeta, 24, signed as a free agent after the 2019 draft, had played all of five offensive snaps, those coming this season.

Matt Pryor, the right guard who missed Sunday’s loss because he was on the COVID-19 reserve list after being in contact with someone who tested positive, was just restored to the active roster Thursday and hasn’t practiced in two weeks. So the coaches went with Opeta, who presumably prefers the left side.

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Guard Jamon Brown, released Wednesday after a disastrous start Sunday in place of Pryor, was called up for the game and was active. Inactive were wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (foot), defensive tackle Malik Jackson (quad), running back Miles Sanders (knee), offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (ankle), safety K’Von Wallace (shoulder), third quarterback Nate Sudfeld, and rookie wideout Quez Watkins.

Jackson was active for the first time since injuring a hamstring Sept. 27 against the Bengals, and he caught a pair of passes on the Eagles' opening touchdown drive. Jackson also ran 12 yards on a first-play jet sweep.

Johnson limped off during the drive, replaced by Pryor, but he limped back on a few snaps later.