Patriots tight end Lance Kendricks has been suspended without pay for the first game of the 2019 regular season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the league announced Saturday afternoon.
Kendricks, who signed with the Patriots in July, will miss New England’s opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 8. He is still eligible to participate in the team’s remaining preseason practices as well as the preseason finale against the New York Giants Thursday night.
Following his suspension, Kendricks can return to the Patriots’ roster on Sept. 9.
In July, Kendricks was sentenced to six months of probation for misdemeanor marijuana possession at a traffic stop.