When the New Orleans Saints open up against the Houston Texans on Sept. 9, they will be without a key defensive role player.
Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata has been suspended one game by the NFL for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy, the league announced.
Onyemata was issued a misdemeanor summons for marijuana possession in February, per ESPN.
Since being drafted by New Orleans in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, Onyemata has contributed consistently along the Saints‘ defensive line, averaging 510.7 snaps per season. In the last two years, the 26-year-old has compiled 6.5 sacks and 11 QB hits.
Against one of the league’s weakest offensive lines in Houston, Onyemata will be missed, but the Saints should have enough firepower to frustrate Deshaun Watson. New Orleans is returning Cameron Jordan, Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Davenport on the defensive line and added Malcom Brown, formerly of the Patriots, in the offseason. Rankins, though, might miss the start of the season while he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Here are the other notable suspensions to come down on Friday:
1. Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Aaron Neary was suspended for the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse. Neary did not play a single snap in 2018. A 2016 undrafted free agent, Neary has one career start, replacing Rams starter John Sullivan in Week 17 of the 2017 season.