Report: Jimmy Garoppolo suspended for violating NFL PED policy

After one season with the Las Vegas Raiders, it seems as if Jimmy Garoppolo’s time with the franchise is coming to an unceremonious end.

The veteran quarterback was benched after Antonio Pierce took over the team, as Aidan O’Connell led the Raiders to a strong finish. As Garoppolo looks ahead to a new start in 2024, a roadblock was put in his way on Friday, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the quarterback will be suspended two games for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Substances Policy.

“Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is being suspended two games for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Substances Policy, league sources told ESPN,” Schefter reported. “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, but it is not expected to be with the Raiders, per sources.”

That’s certainly not the news Garoppolo wanted to hear, especially ahead of another potential free agency sweepstakes, one where it’d work in his favor to perhaps start the season as a team’s QB1, but move into a backup role during the season.

As Schefter noted, the Raiders are expected to release the veteran quarterback next month, before he’s owed a roster bonus.

“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,” Schefter added. “Rather than pay the roster bonus, the Raiders prefer to move on from Garoppolo. The quarterback signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract that included $33.75 million guaranteed with Las Vegas last March, less than one year ago, when Josh McDaniels was the team’s head coach and Dave Ziegler the general manager.

“With Antonio Pierce now the head coach and Tom Telesco the general manager, there is no connection or commitment to Garoppolo. The Raiders will be looking to add another quarterback in the draft, with some around the league believing that Las Vegas could make a strong play to trade up from the No. 13 overall pick that it currently holds.”

Time will tell what the future holds for Jimmy Garoppolo, but it’s evident it won’t be in Sin City, as he’ll be looking for a new squad to serve his freshly announced suspension with in 2024.