Eagles RT Lane Johnson Expected To Play In Week 1 While Possible Suspension Is Sorted Out

Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that Eagles RT Lane Johnson is expected to play in the team’s season-opener on Sunday.

According to Garafolo, Johnson’s “B” sample not in yet, which means his suspension hasn’t been levied. Once it has, Garafolo mentions that Johnson will have five days to appeal, so it’s unlikely that all of this will be sorted out by this weekend.

Johnson said he took an amino acid that was approved, but still triggered positive for peptide. He previously mentioned that his plans is to fight both the 10-game suspension and the company that sold the peptide.

According to Johnson, he checked every supplement he takes with the “Aegis Shield” app provided by the NFLPA. However, since the NFLPA doesn’t test the products, there’s still no support from them in this matter: 

“I want that to be clear: The NFLPA does not stand up for players. They don’t check the supplements. And when you call them and ask them if you test positive for something they approve, it doesn’t matter.”

The Eagles locked up to a five-year extension worth $56.26 million that can max out at $60.01 million based on Pro Bowl escalators. Philadelphia is obviously paying him to eventually take over for Jason Peters at left tackle, but a second PED violation would be a major concern for the team.

Johnson, 26, is a former first-round pick of the Eagles back in 2013. He had one year remaining on his four-year, $19.853 million rookie contract when the Eagles elected to sign him to sizable contract extension in January.

In 2015, Johnson appeared in all 16 games for the Eagles and was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 25 offensive tackle out of 76 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding a potential suspension for Johnson as the news is available.