The National Football League announced Wednesday that Eagles tackle Lane Johnson has been suspended for the first four games of the 2014 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Johnson said in a statement released by the Eagles that he “mistakenly and foolishly put a prescribed medication in my body to help with a medical issue” in April. Johnson will miss out on playing against the Jaguars, Colts, Redskins and 49ers.
Johnson, drafted fourth overall in last year’s draft, is still eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games according to Philly.com. Johnson started all 17 games last season. The Eagles were lucky enough to have all five starters on the offensive line healthy every game last year, a luxury they won’t have this season.
The Eagles released a statement saying “We have spoken to Lane about the details of the suspension. He understood what he did wrong and took full responsibility.”
The suspension will cost Johnson $116,470 of his $495,000 salary this year according to ESPN. Veteran Allen Barbe will most likely replace Johnson at right tackle for the four game suspension.