Johnson On Track to Play Vs. Browns

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The fact that Carson Wentz is the new starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles sort of overwhelmed everything else at the NovaCare Complex on Monday but there was other news to report.

Most notably the fact that it appears as if starting right tackle Lane Johnson will be available for the Eagles when they host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson intimated that Johnson, who is facing his second suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, is on track to play Sunday.

"Allen Barbre is moving back to left guard," Pederson said. "Lane Johnson is my right tackle, until I hear something otherwise."

Johnson believed the same while speaking at his locker after practice.

“I plan on playing this week, and playing well,” the veteran said. “We'll see what happens.”

Johnson and the Eagles are still waiting on a ruling from the league in regards to the Texas native's B sample, after the original tested positive for peptides Johnson claims were from a tainted supplement bought online.

On Aug. 12 Johnson stated he believed that process would take about two weeks and we are now over three weeks since that assessment.

The NFL does not comment on potential PED suspensions so an official timetable has never been established, meaning Johnson will likely be protecting Wentz on Sunday.

EAGLES FINISH OFF PRACTICE SQUAD

Both receiver Paul Turner and cornerback C.J. Smith cleared waivers and were brought back to the Eagles practive squad late Monday afternoon.

The Eagles continued building their practice squad earlier Monday by bringing back linebackers Quentin Gause and Don Cherry, while also adding fullback Andrew Bonnet and offensive lineman Aaron Neary.

That group joined running back Byron Marshall, wide receivers Marcus Johnson and David Watford, offensive guard Darrell Greene and defensive tackle Aziz Shittu.

Gause's stay was very short, however, as he was released to open up the extra spot so Philadelphia could fit both Turner and Smith on the 10-man squad.

Gause, a Rutgers product, made a run at the 53-man roster with 10 tackles and an interception in the preseason but the Eagles chose to go out of the organization to bring in former Patriots sixth-round pick Kamu Grugier-Hill.

Cherry, meanwhile, is a former Villanova star who has 11 tackles during his preseason work, mainly as a backup mike linebacker.

Bonnet is a former Wentz teammate at North Dakota State and is the lone fullback in the Eagles program right now, a position Pederson likes and hopes to use at some point. He spent the summer in the Cincinnati Bengals’ camp.

Neary is an interior O-lineman, who played his college ball at Eastern Michigan and had been in camp with the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

CURRY MISSES PRACTICE

The Eagles nearly had a full boat at practice with defensive end Vinny Curry being the only player missing the session as he continues to rehab a sprained knee suffered in the third preseason game against Indianapolis.

Curry was in good spirits in the locker room and seemed no worse for wear, however, so don’t be surprised if he is practicing by Wednesday when things really ramp up.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen