The New York Jets were already without one of their starting linebackers, as Avery Williamson suffered a torn ACL in practice and will miss the entire 2019 campaign. Well, now, they will be without two of them.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Jets linebacker Brandon Copeland has been suspended for four games as a result of violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy.
While Copeland obviously won't be sidelined for as long as Williamson, this is still a big hit, as what was considered a strength for New York now looks like a glaring weakness heading into Week 1.
The Jets strengthened what was already a solid up and coming linebacking corps even further this offseason by signing C.J. Mosley, who, along with Williamson and Copeland, was expected to give Gang Green one of the better groups of linebackers in football.
But now, the Jets may have to dig deep into their depth chart in order to field a capable foursome for the season opener.
Copeland is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he played all 16 games and registered 35 tackles and five sacks.
The 28-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Pennsylvania, went undrafted but eventually landed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent in 2013.
After bouncing around between a couple of different teams, Copeland joined the Detroit Lions in 2015, where he ended up seeing his first NFL action, logging eight tackles and a half of a sack during his rookie year.
Then, the following season, Copeland totaled 11 tackles and a forced fumble. He proceeded to miss all of 2017 due to injuries before signing a one-year deal with the Jets in March 2018.
Due to his impressive 2018 campaign, New York re-signed Copeland earlier this offseason.
Follow Us
Subscribe