Raiders star Jimmy Garoppolo ‘is SUSPENDED by the NFL for two games for PEDs violation’… but quarterback ‘is NOT expected to serve the ban in Las Vegas with team set to release him’
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been suspended for two games by the NFL for violating its Performance Enhancing Substances policy.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the violation relates to him ‘using a prescribed medication without having a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption.’
Garoppolo will likely not serve the suspension with the Raiders as the quarterback is set to be released by the team due to poor performance in 2023.
Schefter reports that the team will likely release the quarterback before March 5, the start of the new league year, to prevent paying him an $11.25million roster bonus.
Garoppolo inked a three-year, $72.75m deal last year with $33.75m guaranteed. But with a new head coach and general manager at the helm, they’re expected to try and go after a new quarterback in the upcoming draft.
Schefter reports that the Raiders could look to trade up from the No. 13 overall pick the team currently holds in order to get a better prospect.
Once Garoppolo is released, Las Vegas will only have rookie Aidan O’Connell and veteran backup Brian Hoyer on their roster.
This will leave the 32-year-old Garoppolo looking for a third team in three seasons – having played with San Francisco in 2022 before joining Las Vegas in 2023.
Garoppolo spent four seasons as the backup to Tom Brady in New England and watched on as the Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LI.
He was then traded to the 49ers and led them to a championship game of their own – Super Bowl LIV, which they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the 2022 season, Garoppolo was initially benched before taking over from an injured Trey Lance.
Garoppolo started for San Francisco from Week 3 to Week 13, when he too went down with a foot injury.
In Las Vegas, Garoppolo was benched for O’Connell following a mediocre 3-5 start to the season.
