It’s a double black eye for Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith.
Yesterday, it was reported that Smith was declared out for the season by the team after tearing his Achilles during Baltimore’s 44-20 home thumping of the Detroit Lions.
Today, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Smith tested positive for a still unknown performance enhancing drug, and that the NFL has given the Ravens corner a four-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.
Ravens’ CB Jimmy Smith is being suspended four games for violating NFL policy of performance enhancing substances, per source.
Now that Smith is out for the year with a torn Achilles, he will withdraw his appeal and begin serving suspension, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2017
This is a sudden downturn for the 29-year-old veteran, who was playing well for the Ravens prior to sustaining a ruptured Achilles. In 12 games played this season, Smith collected three interceptions to go with 26 tackles and nine passes defended.
Losing Smith surely will impact the Ravens’ stop unit that has been among the best in the NFL, as it ranks third overall in scoring defense with only 17.2 points surrendered per game. It impacts Smith’s bank account as well, as the suspension forfeits the cornerback $794,117 in salary and bonuses, per Spotrac.
As Schefter mentioned, Smith will not try to appeal the suspension, a practical move since he’ll be able to undergo the punishment right away even while he’s recuperating from the injury. That means Smith will be eligible to play again at the beginning of the 2018 season.
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