Bills DT Marcell Dareus suspended four games by NFL
The Buffalo Bills’ offseason just keeps getting worse by the week. A week after losing rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland to a torn ACL, the Bills will be without stud defensive tackle Marcell Dareus for a quarter of the season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that Dareus is facing a four-game ban for a repeat violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.
After the suspension was officially announced, the Bills issued this statement via the team's official website.
Dareus also apologized to fans, the Bills, his family and the NFL in a post on Instagram.
Dareus signed a six-year, $108 million contract with the Bills last September, locking up the two-time Pro Bowler for the foreseeable future. This suspension couldn’t have come at worse time given the recent rash of injuries and problems the Bills have dealt with.
In addition to Ragland, the Bills lost IK Enemkpali for the year with a torn ACL. Shaq Lawson, the team’s first-round pick, isn’t expected back until at least October after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The Bills are quickly running out of defenders for the start of the season, which could prove to be an issue.
Dareus was suspended for the first game of last season for violating the substance-abuse policy after he was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. He’ll likely appeal this latest ban, which he still has the power to do.
