Injured Ravens safety Matt Elam has been suspended one game without pay for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
The league announced Friday that the third-year defensive back would be banned for Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers despite Elam already being on injured reserve after suffering a torn biceps in the first week of training camp.
“We have been aware of this situation for a while,” the organization said in a statement. “Matt has been in our building rehabbing his injury on a regular basis, and he will continue to do so.”
The suspension is just the latest bad news for the 2013 first-round pick, who has been nothing short of disappointing in his time with the Ravens. After two underwhelming seasons, Elam entered training camp with no guarantee of being a starter before he suffered a season-ending biceps injury on Aug. 1.
Starting 26 of 32 games in his career, Elam has collected 127 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and seven pass breakups.
In 2016, Elam will enter the final season of a four-year, $6.767 million contract rookie contract signed after he was the 32nd overall pick in the 2013 draft. The suspension means the safety will not receive his game check worth just over $60,000 for Sunday’s contest.
The University of Florida product is scheduled to carry a $2.153 million cap figure next year, and the Ravens would save roughly $1.328 million in cap space by releasing him in the offseason.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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