Dallas Cowboys Player Suspended For Violation Of Substance Abuse Policy

DALLAS, TX — Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Shaquelle Evans hasn't yet taken the field for his team, and he likely won't do so anytime soon after being suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, according to league officials.

The violation now puts his career with the team in serious jeopardy, the website 247 Sports noted. An NFL spokesman confirmed news of Evans' suspension on Friday afternoon.

"Shaquelle Evans of the Dallas Cowboys has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2017 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse," the NFL statement read. "Evans will be eligible to return to the Cowboys' active roster on Monday, October 2 following the team's October 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Evans is eligible to participate in all off-season and pre-season practices and games."

Officials didn't disclose the substance detected in Evans' blood stream.

The player was a fourth-round draft pick in 2014 by the New York Jets before being waived the following year while on injured reserve for a shoulder injury. He played with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots before signing with Dallas in January. Evans played college ball at UCLA.

247 Sports noted in its report that the Cowboys already are without defensive end Randy Gregory until January 2018 (at the earliest) for repeated violations of the same policy. Struggling to find a silver lining to the development, the website noted that Evans' suspension will have a negligible effect on team performance given Evans' limited, or complete lack thereof, of field play.

>>> Read the full story at 247 Sports

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