PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson posted a statement to social media on Monday saying he's going to start playing again and explaining that he missed the three most recent games because he has been dealing with depression and anxiety.
KYW Newsradio's Dave Uram spoke to Voice of the Eagles Merrill Reese to get his read on — not only how Johnson's return will boost the offensive line — but also the courage it must have taken to speak publicly and openly about mental illness, which often carries an undeserved stigma.
"I think he's very courageous," Resse said. "You have to remember that depression and anxiety are the same as having an illness of any kind. It's the same thing, except it's mental and emotional. So I'm glad he's dealing with it. I am glad he feels well enough to come back and resume his career."
Reese also shared his thoughts about the attention — some negative, some more forgiving — that quarterback Jalen Hurts had gotten so far during this rocky Eagles season.
"Every young quarterback is going to go through ups and downs," Reese said. "Young quarterbacks go through a lot."
When a player goes from winning records in high school and college to the NFL, "it's an entirely different level, an entirely different learning experience," he said.
"Quarterbacks are the single most magnified player on the team. They are always put under the microscope, and people get very high on them and get very low with them."
Reese said six games this year and four last year are not enough to evaluate Hurts, and fans should wait and see how he comes through the season before making judgments.
"And considering the fact that there are other problems on this team that are contributing to his effectiveness, I think he is still a work in progress."
The seventh game this season will be on Sunday at the Las Vegas Raiders.
