Demarcus Lawrence Facing 4-Game Suspension: Details and Reaction | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
The Dallas Cowboys could lose another defensive player because of a suspension, as defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is facing a four-game ban from the NFL.
Per an April 20 report by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the league informed Lawrence and the Cowboys he had failed a drug test, which could result in a four-game suspension. Rapoport also noted Lawrence plans to appeal.
Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan noted Lawrence and the Cowboys "feel good" about his appeal because his failed test reportedly was for amphetamines, not marijuana.
Rapoport added the NFL previously fined Lawrence four game checks for a violation of its substance abuse policy, making a suspension the next step.
On Thursday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Lawrence's suspension could be reduced to two games, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. Fisher also noted Lawrence is "hoping for good news" adding that the defensive end is "insisting test will show ADD-like/back-rehab meds."
The Cowboys were already going to start 2016 without defensive end Randy Gregory, who was suspended for four games in February because of a substance-abuse-policy violation.
While Gregory was a small part of the Dallas defense last season and may not have been ready to take on an expanded role in 2016, even with the departure of free agent Greg Hardy, Lawrence is a key piece of head coach Jason Garrett's defense.
The 24-year-old Lawrence, who was a second-round pick in 2014, had a breakout season last year. He appeared in all 16 games, making 13 starts, and recorded a team-high eight sacks, including a four-game streak from Week 13 through Week 16 with at least one sack.
The bigger story is Lawrence's potential absence leaving a void at a position the Cowboys already had serious concerns about. They only had 31 sacks as a team in 2015, tied for 25th, and losing their best sack artist for 25 percent of the year wouldn't help the situation.
