Cleveland Browns linebacker Armonty Bryant has been suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, the team announced Friday.
The former seventh-round pick played in 14 games last year. He started two of them while logging more than 400 total snaps. Bryant had two forced fumbles and a career-high 5.5 sacks in 2015, by far his most productive season in the NFL.
The suspension comes after the pass rusher was indicted last month on two felony counts of drug possession stemming from a traffic stop and arrest on Christmas morning in Ohio, according to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Bryant plead not guilty to the charges during his Feb. 24 arraignment.
Bryant was in possession of Adderall at the time of his arrest, Ohio Highway Patrol spokesman Craig Cvetan told NFL Media. Police also found marijuana in the car, along with a concealed handgun lacking a permit and a second firearm.
Former Browns defensive back De'Ante Saunders, the driver of the car, was indicted for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, per court records. Cleveland released Saunders from the practice squad three days after the incident. Saunders also has plead not guilty.
The suspension comes at a bad time for the Bryant. While the 25 year old can still practice and play with the Browns during the preseason, but his pass-rushing role might be taken by the time he is eligible to return on Oct. 9.
