Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson was unexpectedly scratched from the lineup Sunday, with the team citing “personal reasons.” On Tuesday, he announced his retirement.
“I gave it my all for 14 years, season after season, pushing my body to the max and tirelessly working my craft to not only live up to the legacy of the guys who came before me, but to set a new standard of success for the best franchise in all of sports,” Johnson wrote, in part, in a statement on social media. “I really wanted to take another year off, get on the field with my brothers for one last season. But after a lot of reflection, I realized that my personal and family priorities in my life have changed. Right now, it’s critical that I focus on my mental health. I owe it to my teammates, my coaches, the organization and the fans to have my head and heart 100 percent in the game. And right now, my heart is telling me it’s time to tell the see football again.
“At this time, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to retire from the National Football League.”
Johnson missed time the start of training camp and said his mother had health problems upon returning to the team.
The Eagles lost Sunday, dropping to 18-30 without Johnson and 122-63-1 with him since his first-round selection in 2013.
Johnson, 36, is a six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro. He started 171 career regular-season games and 15 in the playoffs, and Johnson won two Super Bowl rings.
He missed seven games last season due to a Lisfranc foot injury.
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