Eagles’ Lane Johnson says teaming up with former rival Saquon Barkley felt like ‘alternate reality’ | Sporting News

One of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason was running back Saquon Barkley’s jump from the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Barkley, a premier running back in the league, spent years torturing the Eagles as a division rival before finally teaming up with them on a three-year deal back in March.

Barkley’s move was even a shock to some of his new teammates. Offensive tackle Lane Johnson, who will be charged with opening up the field for Barkley this coming season, said that the news that Barkley was joining the team initially left him in disbelief.

“I felt like I was in an alternate reality,” Johnson told The Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday. “I never thought he would be on our team, and I’m surprised that he is.”

Once the shock wore off, Johnson said that Barkley was nothing but impressive with his new teammates.

“Early impressions are good guy and he has some big legs,” Johnson said. “I bet he can squat a lot, I bet he can run fast. About 15 seconds in, he’s proven everybody right. A guy that can do it all at the running back position. Flex him out at wide receiver, he can do that. But really just a team guy. He bonded with everybody immediately.”

Beyond Barkley, Johnson also had high praise for the work that quarterback Jalen Hurts has put in this offseason. After the Eagles’ collapse to conclude their 2023 run, Johnson, Barkley, and Hurts will all be looking to get things started on the right foot in 2024 when they begin their season with a trip to Brazil to face the Green Bay Packers.