Adrian Fedkiw
It’d be a devastating blow to the offensive line if true.
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is facing a 10-game PED suspension, according to WIP’s Darren DeGaetano and later confirmed by Howard Eskin and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
This is potentially the second offense for Johnson, who signed a five-year, $56.3 million contract during the offseason, which made him the highest paid right tackle in the NFL.
Johnson is denying the report, according to Les Bowen and Jeff McLane.
League spokesman says NFL has no comment on the Lane Johnson reports.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) August 9, 2016
RE Lane Johnson, I can confirm that several people with the Eagles who normally would know about something like this say they do not. So, ?!
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) August 9, 2016
FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer talked to Johnson, and tweeted this:
“Just heard from Lane Johnson, says he took an amino acid that was approved but tested positive for peptide. Fighting it as well as company. You’re responsible for what goes in your body but he insists it was approved. Waiting on B sample.”
According to multiple reports, a suspension would void the guaranteed money in Johnson’s contract, as well.
Worth noting re: Lane Johnson, per his contract, a suspension would void the guaranteed money in the 5-year extension he signed in January.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 9, 2016
This doesn’t mean Johnson can’t make the $35.5M in guaranteed money, just means it’s not guaranteed anymore. https://t.co/r1ChzuEXfK
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 9, 2016
Good News for Eagles: Lane Johnson suspension voids guaranteed $ in his contract.
Bad News for Eagles: They need him on the field. Badly.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) August 9, 2016
Johnson was suspended the first four games in 2014 for PED use. If Johnson does miss the first 10 games this season, a third offense would mean a permanent ban from the league.
Dennis Kelly and rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai are the right tackles listed behind Johnson on the depth chart, but Matt Tobin could be a possibility to start if the suspension occurs. The possible suspension is also devastating because Johnson would become the starter at left tackle in case the 35-year-old Jason Peters, who comes off an injury-plagued 2015 campaign which saw him miss a pair of games and leaving a few others due to nagging ailments, misses any time. Peters has already left two Training Camp practices so far due to injuries.
UPDATE: Howard Eskin, who is on WIP today with Josh Innes, confirms that he was told by the team about Johnson’s suspension. Here’s the opening sequence of The Josh Innes Show today a few moments ago.
Newest Eagle employee Brian Dawkins chimed in, as well.
— Brian Dawkins (@BrianDawkins) August 9, 2016
Dawkins wastes no time