Steelers’ Marcus Gilbert suspended 4 games

The Pittsburgh Steelers will play without a key offensive lineman for the next four games.

This week the team announced that right tackle Marcus Gilbert has been suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

“We are disappointed that Marcus Gilbert has been suspended four games for using performance-enhancing substances. He will not appeal the NFL’s decision,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement.

Gilbert issued the following apology on Twitter a short time later:

https://twitter.com/MarcusGilbert88/status/932732049626148869

Gilbert will miss Sunday night’s tilt with the Packers followed by games against the Bengals, Ravens and Patriots.

Gilbert will be eligible to play Week 16 against the Texans and the regular-season finale at home against the Browns.

It’s a tough loss for Pittsburgh, with Gilbert grading out at the league’s 11th-ranked tackle, per Pro Football Focus.

The 6-foot-6 blocker has started 80 games for the Steelers since he was chosen in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.