Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson is being suspended six games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The suspension was initially said to be eight games, but the NFL insider later reported that it would be six after Peterson dropped his appeal.
Arizona's eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson is being suspended the first eight games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, league sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 16, 2019
Actually six games. Patrick Peterson dropped his appeal. Six games. https://t.co/8eSyrkIfSh
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 16, 2019
Peterson is reportedly being suspended four games for the PED violation and an additional two for a masking agent, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The veteran cornerback has not missed a game since being made the No. 5 overall pick in 2011. That streak will end this year.
The San Francisco 49ers lost each of their two meetings with the Cardinals last year, and Peterson will be available when the two squads clash during a Week 9 Thursday-night matchup and then again during Week 11.
Peterson recorded 54 combined tackles, a sack, five passes defensed, and two interceptions through 16 games last season. He was Pro Football Focus' eighth-highest graded cornerback and seventh-highest graded in coverage.
Peterson is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time first-team All-Pro.