If Johnson is suspended starting with the Lions game, he won’t be eligible to play again until December 18 in Baltimore.
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Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2012, has started at right tackle for the Eagles since entering the league. If he loses the appeal, the suspension would start October 9 and? The Eagles play the Ravens, the Giants, and the Cowboys in their final three games of the 2016 season. There has been a delay in Johnson’s suspension timeline, however, as he’s awaited the results of his B sample.
Johnson also served a four-game suspension for a positive PED test in 2014. As it turns out, the B sample only confirmed the original A sample.
Johnson said that he used a supplement that he thought was approved by the National Football League after he checked with “Aegis” – a mobile phone app that was provided by the Players Association. The NFL’s drug policy keeps players out 10 games for a second positive test and bans players for two seasons if they test positive a third time. He blamed the union for endorsing the app and said that it “does not stand up for players”.
If the Eagles lose Johnson for 10 games, he won’t be eligible to return until Week 15.
Philadelphia prepared for Johnson’s likely absence this preseason by moving starting left guard Allen Barbre over to right tackle for several weeks of training camp and the preseason. Filling in at guard could be veteran Stefen Wisniewski. Johnson said he had taken a prescribed medication without checking it with the Eagles’ medical staff.
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If he’s suspended Johnson will have to stay away from the NovaCare Complex until he’s reinstated.
