McLane: Johnson's suspension puts Vaitai on spot

The best that can be said about the prolonged resolution to Lane Johnson's failed test for performance-enhancing drugs, at least from the Eagles' perspective, is that rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai had more than a month to prepare for the likelihood that he would start for the suspended right tackle.

For Johnson, there are no silver linings, and only the playbook he will take home as he serves out his 10-game suspension away from the Eagles. The 26-year-old offensive lineman will not only miss a significant chunk of time in his prime years, but he will forfeit approximately $3.6 million - possibly more - and is now one more violation from facing at least a two-year NFL ban.

The Eagles will forge on, of course. One player does not a 53-man roster make. But Johnson has arguably become the team's best offensive lineman, and after he signed a five-year, $56.25 million contract extension in January, he was its anchor for the future and the likely heir to left tackle Jason Peters.

"Very disappointed" was the Eagles' prepared response to the league's official announcement Tuesday. Johnson had appealed the decision, but a week after the hearing an arbitrator denied the plea. The suspension was effective immediately. Johnson won't be eligible to return until Dec. 19, just three days before the Eagles are to host the New York Giants.

"His actions have affected the entire organization," executive Howie Roseman said in the Eagles' statement. "We are all working under a clearly defined set of rules and regulations set forth by the NFL in the collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA."

Johnson's attorney, Steve Zashin, said that he would "consider all available legal options" once arbitrator James Carter issues a formal written opinion, but the complaint has essentially run its course. There's no way that Johnson wants to delay the suspension into next season, when his base salary increases exponentially.

As it stands now, he will surrender about $396,900 of his $675,000 base salary for 2016, $287,000 of his $2.4 million roster bonus, $1.176 million of his $2 million prorated signing bonus, and $1.774 million of his $3.016 million prorated rookie signing bonus.

The remaining $25 million that was initially guaranteed upon his signing his new deal is also no longer guaranteed. Johnson can earn the remaining $54.25 million on his contract, and it is likely that he'll be around to recoup all of his 2017 salary ($10 million), but nothing is certain.

"Moving forward, he has no choice but to hold himself accountable to [owner] Jeffrey Lurie, Coach [Doug] Pederson and his staff, his teammates, and to the entire organization and our fans," Roseman said in the statement. "When he returns from suspension, we will continue to support him and welcome him back to the team."

Johnson, of course, has been sent to PED Siberia before. He served a four-game suspension at the start of the 2014 season after he was busted for taking what he said was Adderall. Johnson returned to Texas and communicated with some teammates via Skype, but he has said that he plans to stay in Philadelphia for the next two-plus months.

He started in his first game back two years ago, but he will be away from the Eagles for significantly longer this time and will have only three days to prepare for the Giants. He has a lot at stake, so it's unlikely that the 6-foot-6, 317-pound tackle won't return in peak shape.

But after two offenses, it's fair to speculate on how he will go about getting there. Johnson has said he has sworn off taking supplements after the product he used this offseason contained a banned peptide. The Eagles test supplements, and the NFLPA if asked, so it's not as if he needs to go that far.

It may be wise, however, to avoid putting any foreign substance into his body. A third suspension could end his career. It would be a shame because Johnson has steadily developed into an upper-echelon tackle. He has been the Eagles' most reliable blocker this season.

Roseman made Johnson a foundational piece of the team when he extended his contract in January. Peters turns 35, and with an $11.2 million salary-cap figure is unlikely to return in 2017. But with Johnson one strike from a two-year ban, would the Eagles need to add insurance via next year's draft or free agency?

Protecting quarterback Carson Wentz is of the utmost importance. And the Eagles won't likely be able to optimally do so for the next 10 games because Johnson was careless. Vaitai, who was selected in the fifth round in April, is an unknown commodity.

Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich have endorsed his promotion, although they could still return to the original plan to slide Allen Barbre to right tackle and insert either Stefen Wisniewski or rookie Isaac Seumalo into left guard. But the Eagles seem to prefer moving just one piece rather than two.

If Vaitai had regular-season film, Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry would certainly be circling No. 72 before Sunday's game. But Vaitai has yet to be active, let alone play. Pederson will likely have to help Vaitai with the occasional double-team or chip block, but that will take away from the rest of the offense, and there are only so many ways to scheme help for tackles.

The Eagles line hasn't been near perfect through four games, but it has been reliable. Chemistry has been vital as all five linemen started and finished each game. Vaitai impressed the coaches in practice, but those were scout team repetitions with the reserves.

The best-case scenario is that Vaitai steps in and the Eagles don't miss a beat, and when Johnson returns in December, it will be for a playoff run. But the postseason looked a little more within sight before his suspension.

jmclane@phillynews.com

@Jeff_McLane