The Philadelphia Eagles will be without one of their top offensive players for the first 10 games of the season.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, starting right tackle Lane Johnson has been suspended for violating the NFL’s policy against performance enhancing drugs.
#Eagles OT Lane Johnson is facing a 10-game PED suspension, source said (as @DarrenDegaetano reported). He's appealing. Would be a bad blow
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2016
This is a major blow for the Eagles, as Johnson has been one of the top right tackles in the league over the past couple seasons.
Johnson, a top-four pick back in 2013, has started 16 games at right tackle in two of his first three seasons. He was suspended back in 2014 for another violation of the NFL-mandated policy.
With Johnson now having to sit for the first 10 games, the Eagles will likely look at the watered-down free agent market for depth.
Though, Matt Tobin, Dennis Kelly and Andrew Gardner will likely battle for the right to start opposite Jason Peters for the first 10 games.