Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is officially questionable for Week 4 as the four-time All-Pro works his way through the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol.
If the veteran is unable to suit up Sunday, the Eagles should be in good hands with backup Fred Johnson, who played 53 snaps in Lane’s absence against the New Orleans Saints and was among the team’s unsung heroes in a gritty 15-12 win. For Fred Johnson, the game action was his first in the regular season since he was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021.
Given their rash of injuries on offense — including wide receivers DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and Britain Covey, and right guard Mekhi Becton — the Eagles would love to have Johnson back in the lineup for Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Lane's limited practice session Friday makes it possible for him to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in time to play on Sunday.
How long does the NFL concussion protocol last?
Players have to go through several steps before they can be medically cleared to play. Since each phase can take a different amount of time, depending on the severity of the concussion, the timeline can differ wildly based on the player.
Here are the steps players have to take to leave the concussion protocol:
Symptom limited activity
In this phase, players are asked not to engage in much activity. They are supposed to rest during this period and limit anything that could aggravate their symptoms. Eventually, players will be allowed to do limited stretching and light aerobic exercises, so long as team training staff is supervising.
Aerobic exercise
Players will start to work on cardio exercises along with stretching and training, with team medical staff supervising. After this phase, players can start working on balance testing.
Football-specific exercise
In the third stage, players can take part in football-specific exercises and start working with the team for up to 30 minutes under supervision. Players are also able to increase their cardio workloads.
Club-based non-contact training drills
Players reaching the fourth stage are able to start throwing, catching and running, and can engage in activities more specific to their position. They also can continue to ramp up their exercise and training. By the end of this phase, players have to have undergone neurocognitive and balance testing.
Full football activity/clearance
The player has to be cleared by both the club physician and the independent neurological consultant to return to full activity.
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