Jerome Simpson Suspended 6 Games: Latest Comments and Reaction

Wide receiver Jerome Simpson has been suspended for the first six games of the NFL season, according to the San Francisco 49ers on Twitter.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, the suspension is for violating the league's Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle noted the suspension is in response to previous arrests and isn't for anything that happened since Simpson signed with the Niners in March.

The league reduced the suspension from 10 games to six, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. 

"The probability of a suspension was known when we signed Jerome," general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. "Since joining the 49ers, Jerome has proven to be a great teammate."

Simpson, 29, did not play last season after the Minnesota Vikings released him in September. He had been "cited on July 7 for misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession, driving on a limited license and having an open bottle in a motor vehicle," per Ben Goessling of ESPN.

This will be Simpson's third suspension in the past four seasons.      

He has been competing this offseason for the team's third wide receiver spot behind Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, though now the Niners will be without him for the first part of the season.

That means players like Bruce Ellington will have more of an opportunity, while Quinton Patton and DeAndrew White could earn meaningful playing time if they separate themselves from the glut of wideouts the Niners have in camp.