Randy Gregory Reportedly Drops 10-Game Suspension Appeal

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory reportedly withdrew his appeal of a 10-game suspension over an additional violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, according to Adam Schefter and Todd Archer of ESPN on Sept. 19.

Schefter and Archer noted Gregory will be first eligible to return in Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gregory was already serving a four-game ban for an initial violation of the substance abuse policy.

However, Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported on Tuesday that Gregory hopes his suspension will be reduced so he can return earlier:

Field Yates of ESPN, citing a source on Sept. 12, reported Gregory was taken off Dallas' reserve/did not report list. Yates also reported Gregory is out of rehab.

In February, the NFL announced it had suspended Gregory for the first four games of the 2016 season after he violated the league's policy and program for substances of abuse. 

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com), the NFL levied the initial four-game suspension against Gregory after he failed four drug tests. 

In July, Schefter and Archer reported that Gregory violated the league's substance abuse policy another time and was facing a longer ban. At the same time, Rapoport reported (via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com) that Gregory had checked into a treatment program. 

When the news of Gregory's potential 10-game suspension broke, Rapoport also reported there was "real worry" for Gregory because he "shut out some people close to him."

Gregory, who played in just 12 games as a rookie because of a high ankle sprain, served as a rotational pass-rusher during the Cowboys' turbulent 2015 campaign. In limited action, the 23-year-old notched just 11 combined tackles and zero sacks. 

Considering the Cowboys tied for 21st overall this season and are already without linebacker Rolando McClain for the season's first 10 games because of a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, losing Gregory is another blow to the team's pass rush.