The Dallas Cowboys will be without defensive end David Irving for the first four games this season.
The NFL officially suspended Irving on Wednesday for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.
Irving, 23, is eligible to participate in offseason and preseason practices and games. The earliest he can play in the regular season will be the Week 5 game vs. the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 8 at AT&T Stadium.
This is a blow to the Cowboys defensive line, a unit the organization continues to try and improve.
Irving had four sacks a season ago, and was credited with a team-high 26 quarterback pressures in 15 games. Irving's most impressive game came against the Packers in Week 6 when he forced three fumbles and was named NFC defensive player of the week.
This will be the fourth consecutive season the Cowboys begin with a defensive contributor suspended. Along with Irving, defensive end Randy Gregory is serving a one-year suspension for multiple violations of the league's substance-abuse policy.
Last year, Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence and Rolando McClain all were suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. And, in 2015, defensive end Greg Hardy served a four-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
And, in 2014, cornerback Orlando Scandrick served a two-game suspension _ reduced from initial four-game suspension as league revised its policy _ for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy.
The Cowboys report to training camp next month in Oxnard, Calif.
