Marcell Dareus Suspended for Week 1 vs. Colts

Star defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, Marcell Dareus, has been suspended for one game by the NFL for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, as reported by CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. Dareus will be on the sidelines for the team’s first game of the regular season at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

The suspension comes as a result of Dareus’ arrest in Alabama this time last year. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dareus later entered an intervention program before his trial that resulted in the charges being dropped.

Dareus’ suspension comes at an unwelcome time for the Bills, who will already have their hands full on opening weekend trying to contain Andrew Luck and his limitless offensive weapons.

The team will now have to try and generate enough consistent pressure to rattle Luck without its most disruptive defensive player. Dareus led all defensive tackles with 10 sacks in 2014 – phenomenal production coming from a player whose job is typically to anchor the D-line and facilitate favorable matchups for his ends and linebackers.

Expect his statistical production to drop a little in 2015 with a return to a 3-4 defense under Rex Ryan, but as long as he can put this setback behind him, Dareus is still primed for a big year.