A second suspension was introduced Friday afternoon. Cardinals wideout Zay Jones has been issued a five-game ban for violating the league’s private conduct coverage, as famous by Tom Pelissero of NFL Community.
Jones was arrested on a misdemeanor home battery cost in November. That cost wound up being dropped in March, however the NFL sometimes conducts its personal investigations into such conditions. That proved to be the case for Jones, who will now see his Cardinals debut delayed by over a month.
The 29-year-old has frolicked with three groups up to now in his profession, making 104 appearances and 67 begins. Jones was with the Jaguars in 2022 and ’23, and he recorded profession highs in catches (82) and yards (823) throughout his first marketing campaign in Jacksonville. Final season noticed a step again in manufacturing and solely 9 video games performed, although, resulting in his launch.
The Jaguars made a number of receiver strikes this offseason, bringing in Gabe Davis in free company and deciding on Brian Thomas Jr. within the first spherical of the draft. These additions will assist offset the departure of Calvin Ridley and the choice to half methods with Jones. The latter visited a number of groups earlier than signing with the Cardinals on a one-year, $2.25M deal.
The previous second-rounder was set to compete for a beginning spot with second-year wideout Michael Wilson because the Cardinals put together to make use of fourth-overall choice Marvin Harrison Jr. as their WR1. Friday’s information will go away Arizona — a workforce that misplaced Marquise Brown in free company — shorthanded within the receiving corps through the fall. This ban will preserve Jones sidelined for a notable stretch and undoubtedly hinder his market worth subsequent spring.
Arizona additionally has the likes of Mack Wilson, Zach Pascal and Greg Dortch on the receiver depth chart. Expectations shall be excessive for Harrison and Wilson early within the season, however Jones’ return will present expertise to the pass-catching group. The time at which that takes place — pending a profitable enchantment — won’t come till October, nonetheless.
