Lions running back Mikel Leshoure missed his entire rookie season last year. Now he’ll miss the first two games of his second season as well.
The NFL has suspended Leshoure for the first two games of the season -- and docked him two additional game checks on top of that -- for his two marijuana possession arrests this offseason. Leshoure will be allowed to stay with the team through the end of the preseason, then will be barred from the team facilities through the Lions’ Week Two game against the 49ers. He can re-join the team on September 17.
“We support the Commissioner’s decision regarding Mikel and appreciate the dialogue that we have had with the League office concerning the matter,” Lions president Tom Lewand said in a statement on the team’s website. “As we have previously stated, we expect every member of our organization to uphold a greater standard of behavior. If that standard is not upheld, those responsible will be held accountable. Our belief and expectation is that Mikel will continue to learn from this experience and use it as positive motivation moving forward.”
After the Lions took Leshoure in the second round of last year’s draft, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon at the start of training camp and was done for the season. Two other 2011 Detroit draft picks -- first-rounder Nick Fairley and seventh-rounder Johnny Culbreath -- have also been arrested for marijuana possession this offseason, and Fairley was also arrested for drunk driving in a separate incident. The NFL has not announced any discipline yet for Fairley or Culbreath.