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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson has announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons.
“I have given it my all for 14 years,” Johnson said Tuesday in a statement, “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 that came before me, but to set a new standard of success for the best franchise in all of sports.”
Johnson had been a late scratch for last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams for personal reasons. He said Tuesday despite wanting to finish the season, his “personal and family priorities in my life have changed.”
Johnson missed time in training camp for personal reasons before saying that this season would probably be his last.
“Lane Johnson is an all-time Eagle and one of the best players ever to play his position in NFL history,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “Lane was a major contributor to our team success for 14 seasons, helping to bring two Super Bowl championships and many other memorable moments to the organization and the city of Philadelphia.”
The 36-year-old Johnson was a first-round pick in 2013 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2022. He earned second-team honors in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Johnson has been a pillar at right tackle and won a pair of Super Bowls with the Eagles.
Johnson took a leave of absence during the 2021 season as he battled anxiety and depression and has since shared his story at mental health clinics in the area.
Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, said earlier this year his potential retirement came into focus last season after conversations with his family and an injury-filled season. He missed Philadelphia’s final seven regular-season games and the wild-card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
“Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health,” Johnson said. “I owe it to my teammates, 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 that it’s time to say goodbye to football.”
49ers’ Juszczyk wins appeal on fine
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk won his appeal over the fines issued by the NFL for what it deemed an “offensive” celebration when he imitated drinking a beverage, which the league said looked like he was chugging a beer.
Juszczyk was initially fined $29,852 for two infractions of the league’s sportsmanship rules after celebrating two catches in the third quarter of a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins by doing the celebration he has done for years while the fans at Levi’s Stadium cheered “Juice!” for his nickname.
He appealed the fine and an appeals officer ruled in his favor, the league said Wednesday.
ESPN first reported that the fine had been rescinded on appeal.
The NFL has vowed to crack down on celebrations this season and initially ruled that the “imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.”
The NFL has issued 21 fines in the first three weeks for illegal celebrations or obscene gestures totaling more than $300,000. It’s not clear how many others have been rescinded on appeal.
Juszczyk has been doing a version of that celebration throughout his career in San Francisco in response to 49ers fans chanting his nickname after catches or other big plays. He argued in the appeal that he was imitating drinking juice.
“I don’t know how else to say it. I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,” Juszczyk said on Sept. 24. “I think you guys all know my nickname is Juice. I have Juice on my pads. The stadium yells ‘Juice!’ when I catch the ball. When I celebrate, I celebrate by drinking juice, and it’s been that way for years. So I was surprised as anybody when I got a fine this week.”
Juszczyk has been the 49ers’ nominee for the Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship for the past six seasons. The only fines he previously has had were for illegal use of the helmet and low blocks.
Juszczyk is in his 14th season in the NFL and 10th with San Francisco. He has made the Pro Bowl 10 times and was an All-Pro in 2023 and ’25.
Ravens' Jackson absent at start of practice
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Lamar Jackson was not at practice for the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday during the portion open to reporters.
Jackson also wasn’t available before practice -- Wednesday is when he usually talks -- after injuring his ankle in Sunday’s win over Tennessee. Jackson’s ankle appeared to roll under an opposing player near the end of the first half, and he did not return.
Baltimore plays at Atlanta on Sunday night.
Tyler Huntley is Jackson’s backup. He led the Ravens to wins over Chicago and Green Bay last season.