The San Francisco 49ers will be without their best pass-rusher, linebacker Aaron Lynch, for the first four games of the upcoming 2016 season.
Lynch has been suspended by the league for violating the NFL’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and the team’s website.
San Francisco’s third-year linebacker emerged as the team’s best pass-rusher last season, and he was tied for the team lead — alongside veteran Ahmad Brooks — with 6.5 sacks in 2015. The 49ers sack totals (28) ranked No. 29 in the NFL a year ago.