Eagles OT Lane Johnson failed to clear prescribed meds with the team

Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson said his four-game suspension for using banned PEDs was the result of him taking a banned prescription drug that he neglected to report to the Eagles’ training staff.

The NFL on Wednesday officially announced Johnson’s suspension, nearly a month after CSNPhilly.com Eagles insider Geoff Mosher reported it.

Johnson, who started all 17 games at right tackle last year as a rookie first-round pick, will be suspended without pay for the Eagles’ first four regular-season games in 2014. He will miss games against the Jaguars, Colts, Redskins and 49ers.

Johnson would be eligible to play in the preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 28 but will be banned from the Eagles’ complex starting the next day.

He is eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 29, one day after the 49ers’ game.

He is not allowed to participate in any team activities or even visit the team’s facility during the suspension.

“In April while training, I mistakenly and foolishly put a prescribed medication in my body to help with a medical issue,” Johnson said in a prepared statement released by the Eagles.

“I mistakenly failed to clear it with Eagles trainers and check the NFL list of banned substances. I am extremely sorry for this mistake and I will learn from it and be smarter in the future.”

According to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, a first positive test for performance-enhancing drugs is a four-game suspension.

Johnson is still scheduled to report to the NovaCare Complex on Friday for the start of training camp, and he’ll be allowed to participate in all preseason practices and preseason games.

But the suspension will cost Johnson $116,470, which is four game-day checks, or 4/17ths of his $495,000 base salary for 2014.

“We’re very disappointed to learn of his suspension,” the Eagles said in a statement.

“We have spoken to Lane about the details of the suspension. He understood what he did wrong and took full responsibility. The key for him, however, is to learn from that mistake and move forward with his preparation for the 2014 season.”

In Johnson’s absence, Allen Barbre is most likely to start at right tackle, although Matt Tobin and Dennis Kelly are also possible candidates.

The Eagles used the same starting offensive line in all 17 games last year.

“I would like to sincerely apologize to Mr. Lurie [owner Jeffrey], [general manager] Howie Roseman, coach [Chip] Kelly and his staff, my teammates and our amazing Philadelphia Eagles fans,” Johnson said.

“This will be very hard on me to not be battling with my teammates for four games. But I will be ready and better than ever when I return.”

Johnson is the sixth Eagle suspended by the NFL since the mid-1980s and the second suspended this year. Linebacker Jake Knott, a roster longshot who spent part of last year with the Eagles, has also been suspended for the first four games.

Other Eagles suspended over the last 30 years: guard Ron Solt (four games in 1989, steroids), offensive tackle Bernard Williams (six games and ultimately entire career, 1995, marijuana), safety Matt Stevens (four games, 1997, steroids) and cornerback Joselio Hanson (four games, 2009, banned diuretic).

- Reuben Frank, CSN Philly