The Chiefs were already worried about rebuilding an offensive line, now they’re minus a big part of what was left.
The league announced that right tackle Donald Stephenson was suspended the first four games of the season for violating the performance enhancing substances policy.
“Obviously losing Donald is disappointing, but we are in full compliance with the league’s policy,” the Chiefs said in a statement, via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
Stephenson issued a statement through his agent citing the now-common line that he took a medication without a “therapeutic use exemption,” which is the new version of the Adderall defense.
Coupled with the losses in free agency of Branden Albert, Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah, and the uneven play of 2013 No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher, the Chiefs didn’t need one more problem on the line.
But now they’ve got a big one, for the first quarter of the season.