Daryl Washington has been conditionally reinstated to return to the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals after spending three entire seasons sidelined by suspensions, the NFL announced Tuesday.
Daryl Washington reinstated to return to Cardinals after 3 years of suspensions
The Cardinals are still not convinced that Washington will ever play for the team again.
“Washington may join the Cardinals at the training facility and participate in meetings, conditioning work and similar activities,” the league said in a statement. “Once arrangements have been confirmed regarding Washington’s clinical resources in Phoenix, he will be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games.
“Prior to the start of the regular season, the NFL will review Washington’s progress. Based on his compliance and engagement with his program and resources, he will be permitted to participate in all regular season activities beginning in Week 1. He will be evaluated later in the season for full reinstatement.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cardinals will welcome back the linebacker with open arms:
In 2014, Washington pleaded guilty to aggravated assault charges related to an incident that left his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child with a fractured collarbone.
The incident occurred in May of 2013, and Washington pleaded guilty in April of 2014. Washington allegedly pushed the woman with two hands, causing her to fall and break her collarbone.
He missed the entirety of 2014 due to a suspension for multiple violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Washington’s suspension was considered indefinite, with the player needing to petition the NFL for reinstatement in May 2015. The league was waiting until that point to address the domestic violence issue. Washington told Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 that he had not failed or missed a drug test during his suspension last year.
Washington also missed four games in 2013 for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, which contributed to the length of his punishments.
Now Washington is 30 and hasn’t played for the Cardinals since the 2013 season, meaning it could be an uphill climb for the linebacker to ever make a roster again, let alone make an impact.
Early in his career, Washington looked like he would be a star in Arizona after the team took him in the second round in 2010. He was an instant starter and a Pro Bowler in 2012 with nine sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles, until trouble derailed his promising career.
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