The Bengals released safety Taylor Mays over the weekend in a move that may be explained by Mays’ unavailability for the first half of the season.
We learned in March that Mays was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. On Monday, we learned his absence will be even longer.
Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Media report that Mays has been suspended for an additional four games. Rapoport reports that the Bengals haven’t ruled out bringing Mays back to the team once his punishment has run its course, although there’s a lot that will happen between now and then that could change their minds.
Mays played for the Bengals from 2011-2014 and spent last season with the Raiders after brief stints with the Lions and Vikings.