Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell and Chargers tight end Antonio Gates were among 26 players on suspension as the regular season was about to begin.
Bell, who is scheduled to miss Pittsburgh’s first two games, will be idle for the season’s kickoff Thursday night at New England. Gates is docked four games under the policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Also out are three standout defensive linemen: the Cowboys’ Greg Hardy (personal conduct, four games), the Jets’ Sheldon Richardson (substance abuse, four games) and the Bills’ Marcell Dareus (substance abuse, one game).
Three players have substance abuse suspensions that could last the entire season: Cleveland wide receiver Josh Gordon, Miami linebacker-defensive end Dion Jordan and Arizona linebacker Daryl Washington.