(AP) On a trying day for Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland, the second-year player was suspended
by the NFL on Friday, nearly a year after being penalized for marijuana possession, and then was taken off the field
after getting injured during practice.
The extent of Breeland’s injuries was unknown at first. When the receiver he was covering made a cut, his leg gave
out from beneath him.
“He is being evaluated for his injury,” Redskins spokesman Tony Wyllie stated.
Breeland collapsed a few hours after the NFL announced that he had been suspended for breaching its substance
usage policy.
According to NFL spokesperson Randall Liu, Breeland will serve his ban during the first week of the regular season,
when Washington meets the Miami Dolphins, whether he is healthy or injured.
He appeared in 15 games and recorded two interceptions for the Redskins last season, when they went 4-12 and
finished last in the NFC East for the sixth time in seven years.
Breeland was anticipated to compete for a starting position in the secondary this season.
”It’s a huge loss for us because he can play both inside at nickel and outside. “And he’s a key member of our special
teams,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said after the suspension was announced, but before Breeland injured himself
during practice. “We’ll need to get someone else ready.”
Breeland was charged for minor marijuana possession the night before the Redskins broke training camp in August
2014. The fourth-round draft pick received a commendation on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus,
approximately a dozen blocks from the Redskins’ training camp complex.
When asked why the punishment came so late, Gruden responded, ”I have no idea.
