There is some unexpected news for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, as safety Damontae Kazee has been suspended for the next three games for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Kazee is currently on the Steelers reserve/injured list with a left arm injury sustained during the team’s preseason finals. That transaction caused Kazee to miss the Steelers’ first four games of the 2022 season, two of which have already been played.
Kazee could be sidelined on the Reserve/Injuries list for several more weeks, so he may not be able to play healthy again until his three-game suspension has expired.
According to Joel Corry of CBS Sports, games issued on the Reserve/Injuries list do count towards the suspension time. Kazee would probably have to miss the next three games due to his left arm injury. He must miss the next two games, regardless of whether he is on the reserve/injured list.
Kazee is now eligible to return to the active roster on Monday, October 10, following the Steelers’ Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills. He will lose his next three game checks as part of his suspension.
The Steelers signed Kazee to a one-year deal in early May, and the veteran played well through the preseason before sustaining his injury.
Kazee was arrested last October on suspicion of drink driving in suburban Dallas, TX while he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys. It is not known whether his suspension is related to that incident.