Stephen A. Smith tries to clarify remarks about Lane Johnson's retirement after backlash

Stephen A. Smith is walking back some of the reaction to his comments about Lane Johnson.

The ESPN personality drew heavy criticism after questioning on air whether the Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle was really retiring to focus on his mental health, or because the team has been struggling. On his YouTube show, Smith said people had misread him and that he was not trying to minimize mental health, adding that he has dealt with mental health issues himself.

The backlash

Fans, current players and retired players pushed back quickly. Buffalo Bills defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a former teammate of Johnson's, took a shot at Smith on X. J.J. Watt also appeared to weigh in, warning people to be careful about speculating.

Sports show host Chase Senior added context, saying Johnson's mother has cancer and his father is also ill.

A sudden exit

Johnson, a longtime Eagles starter widely seen as a future Hall of Famer, announced his retirement this week. It is not yet clear whether Smith's clarification will quiet his critics.