Jets LB Brandon Copeland Suspended 4 Games for Violating NFL's PED Policy

New York Jets linebacker Brandon Copeland was suspended for the first four games of the 2019 regular season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the news Wednesday.

Copeland, 28, is in his second season with the Jets. He played in all 16 games last season (10 starts), recording 35 tackles and five sacks.

The Jets entered the 2019 season expecting Copeland would be in their Week 1 starting lineup. They already lost fellow linebacker Avery Williamson for the year due to a torn ACL and signed Stephone Anthony as a potential replacement. It's unclear if the Jets will dig into the veteran free-agent pool again in hopes of keeping its linebacking corps solid early in the season.

Copeland will miss the first five weeks of the season because the Jets have a Week 4 bye. He will be eligible to return following the team's Week 5 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Undrafted out of Penn, Copeland previously spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions. The PED suspension will see the $250,000 in base salary guaranteed in his contract disappear, and his overall salary has been reduced to $1.2 million.