— Jace (@_Jstern) June 10, 2021
A “horrible decision” stemming from a mix of anti-depressants and alcohol resulted in Jace Sternberger’s two-game suspension from the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers tight end explained the situation in a tweet posted from his official Twitter account on Thursday.
“In February, 2020 I made a horrible decision,” Sternberger wrote. “While on Anti-Depressants, I decided to drink which led me to fall asleep behind the wheel.”
The NFL suspended Sternberger for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
“It is never okay to drink and get behind the wheel,” Sternberger added.
To help remedy the issue, Sternberger said he has been in therapy for the last 16 months.
“I will never ignore my mistakes, I have owned to my poor decision and accept the consequences,” Sternberger said.
Everyone makes mistakes, and Sternberger’s mistake was a dangerous one, but credit the young player for acknowledging the core issue and seeking help. And he hasn’t tried to hide from the consequences of his mistake.
Maybe getting over this hurdle can help propel Sternberger’s football career after a rocky start in the NFL.
As a rookie, he took a vicious hit during a joint practice with the Houston Texans, resulting in a concussion. He later suffered a significant ankle injury during the preseason. Last season, he started training camp on the COVID-19 list. Through two seasons, he’s caught only 12 passes over 18 games and 262 offensive snaps.
Now, his third season will begin on the sideline.
Sternberger will miss games against the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions to start the 2021 season. He is eligible to return in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers.
The suspension will not cause Sternberger to miss training camp or the preseason.
