Ravens second-year tight end Darren Waller has been suspended without pay by the NFL for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.Â
Waller is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games, but will not be allowed around the team once the regular-season begins.
He will be eligible to return on Monday, Oct. 3 following the team's Week 4 game against Oakland. At that point, the team will have to decide whether it will make room for him on the roster.
It's Waller's first NFL violation. He was suspended for two games during his final season at Georgia Tech (2014) for a violation of team rules.
Waller has been making the transition from wide receiver to tight end this offseason. The sixth-round pick's rookie season ended after seven games when the Ravens put him on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Up to that point, the 6-foot-6, 245-pound target had two receptions for 18 yards. He was a standout special teams player with three tackles.
Waller already had an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster this year with four tight ends projected ahead of him: Benjamin Watson, Crockett Gillmore, Dennis Pitta and Maxx Williams.
Waller's punishment means the Ravens will be without two tight ends from last year's rookie class at the start of the year due to suspension. Nick Boyle, a fifth-round pick in 2015, will serve a 10-game suspension after his second violation of the league's performance enhancing drug policy.
