The NFL announced on Friday that Vikings linebacker Kentrell Brothers has been suspended for the first four games of the season for a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Brothers, who can still play and practice in the preseason, is eligible to return to the active roster after the Vikings' Week 4 game against the Rams on Sept. 27. His earliest regular-season game would be against the Eagles on Oct. 7.
"I have been informed by the NFL that I will face a 4-game suspension for PED use," Brothers said in a statement given to NFL Network. "While it was not my intention to violate any league policies, I understand that it is up to me to be aware of what goes into my body, and I take full responsibility for that. I sincerely apologize to the Vikings organization, my teammates and our fans for my mistake. I take my job as a professional seriously and will continue to support my teammates during this time."
A fifth-round pick in 2016, Brothers had earned a roster spot the past two years in large part because of his work on special teams, though 2017 fourth-rounder Ben Gedeon won a spot at weak-side linebacker in the team's base defense after Chad Greenway's retirement. Brothers, a Missouri product, was active for all 16 games last year after playing 10 as a rookie.