Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson spoke with reporters for the first time Saturday since reports surfaced of a looming drug-related suspension.
It was reported Tuesday that the third-year pro is facing a 10-game suspension for a second violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, but Johnson denies he knowingly took a banned substance. In fact, he said he knows the positive drug test is the result of taking a supplement on the NFLPA's approved list.
"Every substance I've taken has been approved by the Aegis Shield app, which the NFLPA gives us," Johnson said from Eagles camp.
The app is a tool given to the league's players to check substances.
Johnson said he feels let down by the NFLPA and that he's had every supplement cross-checked through the players' union.
"It doesn't matter. I'm still going to get suspended," he said. "NFL players use the Aegis Shield app, which the NFLPA gives us, but they do not test the products. If you test positive, that's your own fault.
"I feel like the players have no rights."
"The NFLPA does not stand up for players," he added.
However, a memo from the NFLPA states that the union does not approve supplements and the app only approves ingredients listed on the product, therefore if a supplement contains something not listed on the label, it will not be picked up by the app.
Johnson admitted to purchasing an amino acid online, but it tested positive for peptide.
He took responsibility for a four-game suspension he incurred in 2014 for taking a banned medication, but is appealing this latest expected suspension and is having the supplement tested. He does not, however, expect to win the appeal.
"It's been a nightmare," he said. "I've known this for a couple weeks now. That's been the hardest thing. The last thing I want to be labelled as is a cheater."
His B sample will be tested in the upcoming weeks and he said he doesn't expect to receive the results until the days ahead of the start of the regular season.
In the meantime, the Eagles have been preparing for Johnson's absence. He did not play with the team's starters in their preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.
