Steelers Eli Rogers suspended the first week of the 2018 season due to substance abuse violation

Just when you thought the Pittsburgh Steelers sent the player they had on their roster with a substance abuse problem to the Oakland Raiders, Eli Rogers finds himself suspended for the first week of the 2018 regular season due to violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Here is a statement from General Manager Kevin Colbert, via the Steelers official website:

We are disappointed that Eli Rogers has been suspended for Week 1 of the regular season as part of the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

The suspension will begin following the final roster cutdown on September 1. He will be allowed to continue his rehabilitation and attend meetings at team’s headquarters, but he will not be permitted to practice with the team during his suspension or attend the Week 1 game.

This was the released statement from the NFL regarding Rogers’ suspension:

Eli Rogers of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been suspended without pay for the first game of the 2018 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

Rogers will be eligible to return to the Steelers’ active roster on Monday, September 10 following the team’s September 9 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Rogers is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

While disappointing, there is no guarantee Rogers would have been healthy enough to play in Week 1, as he is still nursing a torn ACL and is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, but there is no guarantee Rogers would even make the team with the new talent blossoming at the wide receiver position.

The Steelers have options with Rogers being on the PUP list, and don’t have to act anytime soon. There is a strong possibility Rogers would remain on the list until near midseason when the team would be forced to activate him to the 53-man roster.

Stay tuned as more details of this story are released...