Lane Johnson Files Unfair Labor Practice Charges Against NFL, NFLPA

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson lost an appeal of his 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy in October. As a result, he filed unfair labor practice charges against the league and the NFL Players Association with the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday, per Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com.

According to Breer, Johnson also "filed a complaint against the NFLPA with the Department of Labor under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act."

Johnson has served six games of his suspension to date and has four remaining. He was also suspended four games in 2014 for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, which made him a two-time offender this year and merited the 10-game ban.

The offensive lineman said the NFLPA did not make it clear which supplements are allowed to be taken in August, per ESPN.com's Phil Sheridan. What's more, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted Johnson said the app the NFLPA uses for players to gather information on supplements told him he could take the one he was suspended for this year.

Smith said an NFLPA spokesperson disagreed with Johnson in a statement. Smith also explained the app does help check ingredients on the supplement labels, but those supplements sometimes have substances not listed and banned by league policy.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk speculated that Johnson's decision on Tuesday "likely arises from" Johnson's contention the NFLPA provides inaccurate information about the substances, the NFLPA's disagreement with those allegations and/or a statement from the offensive lineman's lawyer that said the NFLPA should investigate news of Johnson's second suspension was leaked to the media before it was official.

Florio also said Johnson's actions on Tuesday likely won't prevent him from serving the remaining four games of his suspension.

Andrew Brandt of ESPN noted Cedric Benson filed an unfair labor practice charge against the NFLPA in 2011 although called precedent for such an action "very rare."

On the field, Johnson has served as an anchor along the offensive front for the Eagles since they selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft. He hasn't missed a game outside of his suspensions as a durable pass- and run-blocker.

The Eagles are 5-5 this season and are looking up at the 9-1 Dallas Cowboys as well as the 7-3 New York Giants and 6-3-1 Washington in the NFC East. Johnson would provide a critical boost on the line if his team is still in the playoff picture when he returns.