Veteran New Orleans Saints safety Roderic Teamer has been suspended three games without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy, the league announced Wednesday. Teamer was on the Saints practice squad and is eligible to be reinstated on Dec. 24, after their Week 16 game with the Green Bay Packers.
Teamer had only played on special teams in a couple of games earlier this season, but the Saints’ depth at safety had been questioned after a shoulder injury sidelined Tyrann Mathieu during Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Mathieu is expected to play in their upcoming game with the New York Giants but Teamer’s absence creates one less option to replace him if there’s a setback.
For now, the safeties on the 53-man roster include Mathieu, Will Harris, J.T. Gray, and Jordan Howden. Ugo Amadi has primarily manned the slot since Alontae Taylor moved outside at cornerback but he has experience working over the top, too.
