The Buffalo Bills cannot seem to catch a break on the defensive side of the ball and the hits kept coming on Tuesday when the NFL announced that nose tackle Marcell Dareus will serve a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Bills DT Marcell Dareus suspended 4 games by NFL
It’s bad news for a defense that’s already been hit hard by injuries.
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
“We are very disappointed Marcell chose to put himself first, before his teammates, coaches and the rest of the organization through his recent actions,” the Bills said in a strongly worded statement. “From ownership down we have made it clear his behavior is unacceptable. We will continue to take the necessary steps to work with him in order that he adheres to the policies set forth by our league. As an organization, we will move forward with our preparations for the start of the 2016 NFL season in Baltimore on September 11.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the suspension is for marijuana use, based on either failed or missed drug tests.
Dareus can appeal the suspension, but in an apology he posted on Instagram, he said he would not make excuses and would “allow the process to proceed.”
His absence creates another area of concern for a Bills team that has already lost several key players to injury. Rookie Shaq Lawson is expected to miss at least the first month of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Outside linebacker I.K. Enempkali suffered a season-ending ACL tear in preseason action against the Colts and rookie inside linebacker Reggie Ragland will miss the entire season with a knee injury.
The Bills also open the season with a tough four-game slate against the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots.
This is the second suspension Dareus has faced for violating the league’s policy on substance abuse. In 2015, he served a one-game suspension for a violation after signing a six-year contract extension for more than $96 million.
Dareus started all 15 games he was eligible to play in last season, finishing 2015 with 51 tackles and two sacks.
Corbin Bryant is the next man up at nose tackle, according to the Bills’ depth chart. Bryant finished the 2015 season with 45 tackles. He played in all 16 games for Buffalo last year, with 10 starts.
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