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The Kansas City Chiefs have taken a big blow on the defensive side of the football ahead of Week 3.
According to multiple reports, the NFL has suspended Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. The suspension stems from Gay’s January arrest in Overland Park on misdemeanor property damage. Gay will be eligible to return for the Chiefs’ Week 7 game against the 49ers on Oct. 23, but will miss games against the Colts, Buccaneers, Raiders and Bills.
The NFL has suspended #Chiefs LB Willie Gay for the next four games, per the wire.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 19, 2022
Gay pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor property damage charge and eventually agreed to a “diversion program” which requires him to take mental health counseling among other conditions for the next 12 months. Gay had been going through some mental health struggles prior to this incident.
It’s unclear if Gay will appeal his suspension to attempt to get it reduced, but it appears the Chiefs had a sense this was coming. They signed linebackers Elijah Lee and Jack Cochrane to the 53-man roster from the practice squad just last week. Through two games to start the 2022 NFL season, Gay Jr. had 16 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and two passes defended.
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