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Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Breeland Speaks has been suspended four games by the NFL, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
Although he is on IR, Chiefs DE Breeland Speaks has been suspended for the next four weeks of the 2019 season. Speaks is rehabbing a torn ACL.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 6, 2019
Nate Taylor of The Athletic added that the suspension is as a result of violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
For more clarity, Breeland Speaks has been suspended 4 games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Speaks, who is out this year after having major knee surgery in the preseason, will be eligible at the start of next season.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) December 6, 2019
Since Speaks started the season on injured reserve after surgery to repair an MCL sprain and meniscus damage in his knee, he was ineligible to return at any time this year, anyway.
As Yates notes, Speaks will serve his suspension the next four weeks while on IR.
The Chiefs issued the following statement on Speaks’ suspension:
“The NFL notified the Kansas City Chiefs of Breeland Speaks’ four-game suspension. We will have no comment at this time.”