Philadelphia Eagles starting right tackle Lane Johnson has tested positive for an unspecified performance-enhancing drug and will be suspended for the first four games of the 2014 season, according to Paul Domowitch of Philly.com.
Lane Johnson suspended 4 games for positive PED test, per report
Johnson, a former first-round pick, started all 16 games at offensive tackle for the Eagles last season.
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There has been no indication of what substance was found in Johnson’s system or if the the fourth overall pick of the 2013 draft plans to appeal the suspension.
Johnson will miss games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Washington and the San Francisco 49ers, in that order. He should be available when the Eagles play the St. Louis Rams in Week 5.
"I'm trying to be a dominant player. I know I have the ability," Johnson said.
Eagles blog Bleeding Green Nation believes veteran lineman Allen Barbre, who recently signed a contract extension, will fill in during Johnson's absence.
Johnson started all 16 games for the Eagles as a rookie, fighting through early struggles to help stabilize an offense that finished second in yardage only to the Denver Broncos. Johnson allowed 10 sacks on the season, but showed marked improvement over the last eight games, a span that coincided with a 7-1 record and Nick Foles' sudden ascension among the league's quarterback ranks.
Just last week, Johnson spoke to ESPN about becoming a more consistent player in his second pro season.
“I’m trying to be a dominant player. I know I have the ability,” Johnson said. “It’s just a matter of being consistent with it because there’s times where I showed flashes of being a really good player, and then there’s other times where I didn’t. So I’m just trying to be more consistent this year.”
Barring a successful appeal, it appears as though he’ll have to wait until Week 5 to show that consistency.
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