Around the NFL

Packers' Datone Jones suspended one game

Published: Jul 02, 2015 at 09:01 AM

Marc Sessler

The Green Bay Packers will open their season without the services of Datone Jones.

The NFL announced Thursday that the third-year pass rusher has been suspended without pay for the first game of the regular season for violating the league's policy against substances of abuse.

Jones will be eligible to return to Green Bay's active roster on Monday, September 14 after the team's Week 1 tilt against the Chicago Bears. The former first-rounder is eligible to participate in all offseason practices and preseason games and can return to the field in time for the Packers' Week 2 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

A "Making the Leap" candidate last summer, Jones battled an ankle injury last season and managed just 1.5 sacks after notching 3.5 takedowns as a rookie. The former UCLA star has failed to live up to his first-round pedigree, playing just 385 snaps last season as a part-time pass rusher.

Jones will continue to compete for snaps with Josh Boyd and presumptive starter Mike Daniels at end, but he won't be a part of the plan in Week 1. With the pass rusher signed through 2016, Green Bay has a big decision to make about whether or not to exercise Jones' fifth-year option.

The latest Around The NFL Podcast welcomes back Lindsay Rhodes to recap Antonio Gates' suspension and the 'Top 100' rankings. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.

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