Washington cornerback Bashaud Breeland has been suspended for the first game of the 2015 season for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network. Breeland was cited for marijuana possession in August 2014 on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Breeland was cited by a campus police officer for simple possession of marijuana, which is a misdemeanor. Typically, one-game suspensions for this kind of thing are the result of an arrest or charge and not a positive drug test from the league. If the league directly observed a positive test, Breeland likely would have received a longer suspension.
A fourth-round pick in 2014, Breeland started 15 games and made 67 tackles, and logged two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He's expected to get plenty more starting action this season, with Chris Culliver the only for-sure starter at the cornerback position.
This will set him back, but he should be part of a rotation with DeAngelo Hall as soon as he makes it back onto the field. David Amerson should get some playing time with Breeland out. Breeland will miss the Week 1 opener against the Miami Dolphins, and will return in time to take on the St. Louis Rams in Week 2.