A star player on the Las Vegas Raiders received a severe punishment from the NFL on Friday morning. They might not be on the team when they have to serve the multi-game suspension.
The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback situation is murky for 2024
The Raiders quarterback situation is unknown for the 2024 season. The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo last season and drafted Aidan O’Connell last April. However, Garoppolo’s time in Las Vegas appeared to be over when the Raiders fired Josh McDaniels midseason.
Jimmy Garoppolo received a costly suspension
Per Adam Schefter with ESPN, the league suspended Garoppolo for two games in the 2024 regular season for violating a rule on personal enhancing substances:
“Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is being suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing substances policy, league sources told ESPN.
The policy violation is said to be related to Garoppolo using a prescribed medication without having a valid therapeutic use exemption from the league, according to sources.
Garoppolo will not appeal the suspension and will miss the first two games of the 2024 season, per sources.”
Garoppolo’s suspension saved the Raiders money
The suspension is expected to mark the end of Garoppolo’s tenure with the Raiders. Schefter is reporting the Raiders are expected to release the veteran quarterback in March. Garoppolo’s salary guarantee can be voided due to the suspension:
Sources said the Raiders are expected to release Garoppolo before the fifth day of the new league year in mid-March, when he would earn an $11.25 million roster bonus. Garoppolo also has an $11.25 million base salary guarantee for the 2024 season that now could be voided because of the suspension.
Garoppolo put up solid numbers in the 2022 season before injury caused him to be replaced by Brock Purdy. Garoppolo struggled in Las Vegas. He finished with 1,205 yards passing, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Garoppolo is still a serviceable quarterback in the league. However, his looming two-game suspension will harm the bidding process for his services in March.
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