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BOSTON — The National Football League announced on Saturday that New England Patriots tight end Lance Kendricks has been suspended for the first game of the regular season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
From @NFL - Lance Kendricks of the New England Patriots has been suspended without pay for the first game of the 2019 regular season for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse.
— Tom Leyden (@TomLeyden) August 24, 2019
The announcement came just after 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Kendricks is entering his ninth season in the NFL and his first as a member of the Patriots. The last two seasons, Kendricks was a member of the Green Bay Packers after spending six years with the Rams in both St. Louis and Los Angeles.
Related: NFL 2019: With Brady, now 42, Pats poised to defend title
The Patriots will already be without tight end Ben Watson for the first four games of the regular season. Watson was suspended for failing a drug test.
Kendricks will be eligible to return to the Patriots following their Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is allowed to participate in the remaining preseason activities, including practices and the final preseason game against the New York Giants on Thursday night.
Cox Media Group
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