Overview
- The NFL announced Tuesday that wide receiver Jeshaun Jones was suspended three regular-season games without pay for violating the league’s substances-of-abuse policy, with the ban set to start on Aug. 30 and reinstatement possible on Sept. 28.
- The league said Jones is eligible to take part in the Vikings’ remaining preseason practices and the final exhibition game before the suspension begins.
- Because players on the reserve/suspended list do not count against the 53-man roster, Minnesota can either cut Jones on the Aug. 30 roster deadline and try to re-sign him to the practice squad after Week 3 or keep him and move him to the suspended list, which will require clearing a roster spot when he is reinstated.
- Reporting links the disciplinary action to an April arrest in Hillsborough County, Florida, after Jones refused a breath test; he later pleaded no contest to reckless driving and received probation.
- A 2024 NFL policy change prevented the Vikings from being told which specific substance produced the positive test, and a three-game suspension has become the typical penalty for comparable substance-of-abuse violations for fringe players fighting for roster spots.