OXNARD, Calif. _ Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn, already out for the remainder of training camp and the preseason with a fractured hand, will now miss the first two regular season games due to an NFL suspension.
The league announced that Quinn violated the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances and will be suspended for the first two games of the 2019 season.
Those games are the opener against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium and a road game at the Washington Redskins.
Quinn is eligible to return on Sept. 16, following the Cowboys' Week 2 game at Washington.
Quinn is already back in Dallas, scheduled to undergo surgery on a fractured left hand that he sustained in practice earlier this week.
It's a huge setback for the Cowboys in terms of the roster building and depth.
The Cowboys acquired Quinn in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in March to make up for the loss of indefinitely suspended defensive end Randy Gregory.
Quinn was considered a huge upgrade. He is a former Pro Bowl pass rusher who has 69 career sacks, and at last four in each of his eight pro seasons.
His status makes the defensive end position a mystery going into the season. DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford on the physically unable to perform list, recovering from off-season surgeries. Crawford is also likely facing a suspension from the NFL from a bar fight in Florida. His situation remains under review by the commissioner.
Gregory has not yet filed for reinstatement.
The position is currently being filled by Dorance Armstrong, Taco Charlton, Kerry Hyder, Joe Jackson, Jalen Jenks, Shakir Soto and Ricky Walter and Daniel Wise.
Only Armstrong, Charlton and Hyder have played games in the NFL.
