Both players will miss last four games of year The suspensions are official. And their seasons are over.
The NFL officially announced four-game suspensions for Redskins starters Trent Williams and Fred Davis, effectively ending their seasons.
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According to a statement, they were suspended without pay for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Both players reportedly tested positive multiple times, including in the offseason when there was a grace period because of the lockout. While others were granted a waiver for testing positive, the suspension means that Davis and Williams tested positive again during the season.
Only 11 players in the NFL tested positive shortly after the lockout ended. The punishment of the other nine players will be nullified because they weren’t considered repeat offenders.
The punishment could have been worse. If not for the lockout, which led to a settlement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, both players could have been suspended for a year.
Their suspensions begin immediately and they can’t rejoin the active roster until Jan. 2, one day after the season finale in Philadelphia.
“It will definitely hurt us,” Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said.
Indeed it will. Davis, who is an unrestricted free agent after the season, leads the Redskins with 59 catches for 796 yards and three touchdowns. He’s become a playmaker on an offense with few such players. The second-round pick in 2008 had played nearly every snap since Chris Cooley was lost for the season.
In some ways, this could help the Redskins re-sign Davis. It’s likely they would attempt to re-sign him considering his production. But it could cost him guaranteed money and perhaps drive the price down or scare teams off. If he tests positive once more, he would be banned for an entire season. Last year, Jets receiver Santonio Holmes, who was in a similar position, signed a six-year, $50 million deal — with $24 million guaranteed.
Meanwhile, Williams’ suspension and missed game checks will cost him approximately $1.9 million. He still factors in the Redskins’ future, mainly because it’s difficult to find athletic tackles such as Williams.
“Fred does a great job in both the run game and the passing game and it’s one of the reasons why I think he is considered one of the top tight ends,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “Trent, obviously the fourth pick in the draft, I think everybody knows his size, his weight, his speed, very likeable guy, works extremely hard and has upside as a football player.”
But Shanahan said Monday: “It’s paramount to me in putting a football team together and there are a lot of issues that concern you. … In general, everything is being evaluated — everything that you do. Everybody is accountable and we know that.”
The problem is replacing both players. The Redskins lack a pass-catching tight end now, but do have second-year Logan Paulsen, an inconsistent but developing blocker and veteran Mike Sellers, who spent the bulk of his career at fullback. Paulsen has seven catches for 95 yards.
Tackle is just as tricky. The Redskins’ options are veteran Sean Locklear, who struggled in two games at the position earlier this year. Or undrafted free agent Willie Smith, who has yet to play in a game.
“I want those guys to play,” Locklear said Monday of Davis and Williams. “They’re starters and that’s why they’re here. But I will take advantage of the opportunity.”
