The big thing with Lane Johnson’s absence is that we talk a lot about the philosophical changes on offense and how those changes affect Jalen Hurts and the skill players around him. But, it also affects the offensive line: communication, the landmarks, and the execution required on a play-by-play basis. For a long time, you had Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata and Lane not only protecting Hurts and leading the way for a dominant run game, but providing a level of leadership for a roster that always added contributing young talent. Now you’re asking players like Markel Bell and Drew Kendall, who are still getting their feet wet in the NFL, to execute in an offense that hasn’t found its identity. Additionally, the leadership role for Hurts naturally expands as well. You’ve heard the word “patience” surrounding this offense since the spring, but with the loss of Lane, that timeline may have just extended even longer than many people inside the building hoped. The talent is still evident and the roster is still young, but there are now more questions surrounding this offense than there were even a few days ago as Lane’s absence compounds the larger picture of a full a offensive transition.