Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson could be suspended for the first 10 games of the 2016 season.
Darren DeGaetano of WIP Philly reported on Tuesday that Johnson is facing a 10-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Ian Rapoport of NFL media confirmed the report, adding that Johnson will file an appeal.
Johnson was already suspended four games in 2014 for testing positive for PEDs, so this would be his second offense. A second offense triggers a 10-game suspension while a third offense would lead to a two-year ban.
Johnson, the Eagles’ starting right tackle, is one of the best run blockers in football. He rubbed Philly fans the wrong way last year when he criticized them for their lack of support, and he won’t be scoring any points with the fan base if he loses his appeal.
The Eagles have moved on from DeMarco Murray and are hoping to re-establish their run game with a new head coach. Losing Johnson for more than half of the season would be a major blow.
