ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Jashon Cornell has been suspended three games without pay for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Cornell can still participate in the offseason program and training camp, and can play in the preseason too, but won’t be able to practice or play the first three weeks of the regular season. He will miss games against San Francisco, Green Bay (on Monday Night Football) and Baltimore before he is eligible to be reinstated for a Week 4 showdown with the rival Chicago Bears.
“Last year after losing a dear friend of mine I made a mistake that was out of my character,” Cornell said in a tweet. “I have owned it and worked on learning from it. Since then I have grown as a person and now a better man. With that being said I apologize to the Lions organization and the fans. I have learned from my mishap.”
Cornell was a seventh-round pick in last year’s draft class. The previous regime had hoped they mined a diamond in the rough with the selection -- Cornell was a disappointment at Ohio State, but played his best ball down the stretch in his final season -- but he never played in a game last season due to an Achilles injury he suffered early in camp.
Now his future in Detroit is unclear. The Lions have changed schemes under new coordinator Aaron Glenn and added new defensive tackles like Michael Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill to help run it. Da’Shawn Hand, John Penisini, Nick Williams and Kevin Strong also return at the position, leaving Cornell’s future clouded by uncertainty.