Lane Johnson leans forward against a desk located on the second floor of a modest-sized office building in Cherry Hill and looks at the group of 25 people seated directly in front of him.
“You have to attack the monster before it keeps building and building,” the Eagles right tackle says.Over the past year, Johnson has surfaced his personal battles with mental health. Last season, the three-time Pro Bowler took a leave of absence from the team while he treated his issues. He suffered multiple symptoms, including internal pain and vomiting, after he temporarily abandoned his prescribed medication.
After Johnson was selected with the fourth pick in the 2013 draft out of Oklahoma, he made quick observations of his new home. On Saturday, Johnson gained more insight on transcranial magnetic stimulation , a treatment technique that uses a magnetic field to gently stimulate the areas of the brain that are underactive in individuals with depression. As explained by tour guide Lindsey Hoffman, TMS sends targeted pulses to the parts of the brain responsible for depression.
Since training camp, Johnson has held three similar speaking events at depression treatment clinics. His goal is to utilize his platform and ultimately save others from the global illness. After speaking and hosting his Q&A, Johnson spent additional time getting to know some of the attendees and listening to their personal struggles.
At 32, Johnson remains elite. He hasn’t allowed a quarterback hit since Week 7 of the 2021 season , and he hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 10 of the 2020 season .