NFL Suspends Patriots TE Lance Kendricks For Violating Substance Abuse Policy

The New England Patriots will have a lot of trouble regarding their tight end unit. Rob Gronkowski won’t come back, and Lance Kendricks is hit with a one-game suspension. He will miss the opener of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse. The information was confirmed by the league.

“Lance Kendricks of the New England Patriots has been suspended without pay for the first game of the 2019 regular season for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse.

“Kendricks is eligible to participate in all remaining preseason practices and the team’s final preseason game. He will be eligible to return to the Patriots’ active roster on Monday, Sept. 9, following the team’s Week 1 game vs. Pittsburgh.”

The veteran inked a one-year contract with the Patriots in July in an effort to fill the void of Gronk. However, the Patriots deal with suspensions and roster issues at this position.

Without Gronk, the Patriots depth chart at the position is as follows: Watson, Matt LaCosse, Stephen Anderson, Kendricks, Eric Saubert, Ryan Izzo, and Andrew Beck.

“Well, Lance is an experienced player,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of Kendricks. “He’s been in this offensive system with (offensive coordinator) Josh (McDaniels) and with the Rams. It’s not the same, but it’s similar. He certainly has a good background on it, and he picks things up quickly and has quite a bit of experience in the league anyway. So, he’s done well, and it was good to get him back out there last week. Good to see him have a chance to play against Tennessee, and we’ll build on that going forward this week.”

Benjamin Watson is suspended for the first quarter of the season. The Patriots’ trade for Michael Roberts was voided. New England signed Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the offiseason and cut him right after that. The team traded away Jacob Hollister and traded for Eric Saubert.

Kendricks will join the active roster on Sept. 9 after the season opener. This will happen in case he makes the roster. Kendricks is considered a cut candidate as noted by NFL Network’s Mike Giardi.