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By Aaron Becker
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The Buffalo Bills will be without one of their veteran defensive tackle for a few weeks to start the 2026 NFL season.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis has been suspended for the club’s first three regular season games without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy.
The suspension will begin on Aug. 30 and Mathis will be eligible for reinstatement on Sept. 28.
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Mathis' suspension reportedly stems from an alcohol-related incident in spring of 2025 when he played for the New York Jets, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.
The 28-year-old first joined the Bills last season after he had been released by the Jets, recording 13 tackles in six games.
Before Mathis' short stint in New York, he played for the Washington Commanders, who he began his career with. From 2023-25, he had 25 tackles, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed.
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The Bills will now have to rely on other members of their defensive line to help make up for the loss of Mathis, including Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, Zane Durant and Zion Logue.
A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Mathis played college football at Alabama, where he racked up 129 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and five passes defensed from 2018-21.
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