Report: Cowboys DL David Irving suspended by NFL, will miss Seahawks game

For the second straight season, Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving has been dealt a four-game suspension.

It was reported on Friday that Irving has been banned for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Last year, Irving missed the first four games of the season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Since the PED and substance abuse policies are separate, he’s not getting a lengthier ban, and instead these are treated as first-time violations for each.

Irving signed a second-round tender this offseason and figured to be playing for a much bigger contract in 2018, having finished second on the team in sacks with seven in just eight games (he missed the last four games with a concussion). This ban will reportedly cost the 24-year-old interior rusher $685,000.

What this also means is that Irving is once again not going to play in Dallas’ Week 3 game at the Seattle Seahawks. He missed last year’s Christmas Eve showdown with the aforementioned concussion, although it’s not like his presence was sorely missed, as Seattle racked up more penalty yards than offensive yards.

Nevertheless, Irving is a key part of the Cowboys defense, and now Dallas has to start September without him yet again.