The Buffalo Bills will be without TE Shawn Nelson for the first four games of the season. The NFL released a statement on Friday that Nelson has been suspended the first four games of the year for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The suspension will come without pay.
There have been no reports on what caused the suspension but, as SB Nation's Buffalo Rumblings points out, it does mean that he is a repeat offender. First-time offenders are put into a confidential intervention program.
His suspension will start on Saturday, Sept. 4 and continue on until Monday, Oct. 4 after the Bills play the Jets in week four. That means he can still participate in preseason practices and games.
This is a big blow to the Bills because they need as many offensive weapons as they can get. The Bills lost TE Derek Schouman to injury against the Colts on Thursday night but it's unclear how severe his knee injury is.
The Bills will now work with Jonathan Stupar and Michael Matthews at tight end.
Buffalo Rumblings thinks this development may put the Bills in the market for a tight end before the season opener.
Check out Buffalo Rumblings for the full reaction to the Shawn Nelson suspension.