DeMarcus Lawrence's Suspension Appeal Denied: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will officially be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season after the NFL denied his appeal Thursday.  

The NFL confirmed the denial of the appeal, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, after ESPN.com's Todd Archer reported the news.

Lawrence was a 2014 second-round pick out of Boise State and logged eight sacks this past season.

The 24-year-old was suspended due to a violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy for use of amphetamines. He had already been docked four game checks for a prior substance-abuse violation, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Dallas is now down two gifted edge-rushers to begin the 2016 campaign in Lawrence and Randy Gregory, who's also serving a four-game ban for violating the same league policy Lawrence did.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones commented on the possibility of not having both Lawrence and Gregory to start the new season on May 5, per the Star-Telegram's Clarence E. Hill Jr.:

"

I am concerned about not having those two talented players at end. When you have issues it turns into numbers as well. [...] I do have a lot of confidence we will by rotation, by numbers, by moving some guys...just the nature of the way defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli likes to to coach the defense. I think we got a good chance to have [really] acceptable pressure, acceptable defensive line play.

"

Archer also reported on Thursday that Dallas linebacker Rolando McClain will be suspended for the first 10 games of 2016, leaving America's Team even thinner on the front seven.

Coming off a 4-12 season in which star quarterback Tony Romo missed 12 games, the Cowboys need their veteran signal-caller healthy and the offense to carry much of the load at the beginning.

What will help Romo's cause is the addition of No. 4 overall draft pick Ezekiel Elliott. The Ohio State product is among the more talented running backs in recent years and should thrive behind Dallas' loaded offensive line.

But Lawrence had more than a quarter of the Cowboys' 31 sacks last season, so they are still lacking in a key area most playoff contenders are strong in. As Jones suggested, it will take some crafty reshuffling in the trenches for Dallas to get pressure on the opposing passer, not to mention stellar play from the secondary.