Eagles OT Lane Johnson reportedly faces four-game suspension for PEDs

As a rookie last season Lane Johnson developed into a very good tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, and by the end looked like he was well worth of the fourth overall pick the Eagles invested in him.

Now that progress might be stunted a bit, because Johnson faces a four-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, the Philadelphia Daily News' Paul Domowitch first reported.

Johnson was the fourth pick in 2013, an athletic tackle out of the University of Oklahoma. He started slow last year at right tackle for the Eagles, which isn't surprising for a rookie lineman, and improved as the season went on. The Eagles' skill position players in Chip Kelly's up-tempo attack got a lot of attention, but the truth is a great offensive line was the lynchpin of a fantastic offense. Now that line will reportedly be without Johnson for four games, and it's pretty late in the offseason to add a competent replacement.

The Eagles, who are favored to win the NFC East again, open with games against the Jaguars, Colts, Redskns and 49ers. Those games would be a little tougher without one of their better players.

The Eagles and NFL have not confirmed the suspension.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab