Linebacker Andre Smith from the Buffalo Bills has been suspended for the first six games of the 2022 NFL season.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the infraction was performance enhancing drug (PED) related.
In August 2020, the Bills traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for Smith. That selection is still active, as it’ll be a 2023 pick.
Since joining the Bills, Smith has mostly made contributions to Buffalo’s special teams unit. During his two seasons with the Bills, Smith has played in 62 and 68 percent of special teams snaps each year, respectively.
While suspended, Smith can still practice with the team during training camp and he can take part in Buffalo’s preseason games.
Once the regular season rolls around, the Bills coaching staff will then have to take Smith’s suspension into account.
Buffalo drafted the likes of Terrel Bernard (Round 3) and Baylon Spector (Round 7) at the 2022 NFL draft who might push Smith for playing time on special teams. Both Bernard and Spector are linebackers, however, with the nature of special teams, Smith will have to battle with depth players from other positions for a roster spot as well.
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