Arizona Cardinals practice squad linebacker Markus Bailey has been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, the league announced on Tuesday.
Bailey will be eligible to return after Week 17, ahead of Arizona’s regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers.
He denied knowingly taking any banned substance but accepted the suspension in a statement acquired by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Statement from #Cardinals LB Markus Bailey’s legal team on Bailey’s six-game suspension: pic.twitter.com/sOoFRqPmyX
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 19, 2024
The fifth-year NFL veteran has played in one game this season for Arizona, taking the field for 16 specials teams snaps.
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He signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals in May but did not survive roster cutdown day in August. He joined the practice squad one day later.
Bailey spent the previous four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played 60 games primarily on special teams.
He is the second Cardinals player to receive a suspension from the NFL this season after wide receiver Zay Jones was ineligible for the first five games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Cardinals move Charlie Heck to practice squad
The Cardinals released offensive lineman Charlie Heck from the active roster and re-signed him to the practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-8 tackle has filled in for an injured offensive line this season with 30 offensive snaps and 25 special teams reps across seven games played.
Arizona cleared a 53-man roster spot with this move ahead of its Week 12 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Right tackle Jonah Williams is the only player on the injured reserve/designated to return list.