Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is being suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy, league sources tell ESPN.
According to sources, the policy violation is related to Garoppolo using a prescribed medication without a valid therapeutic use waiver from the league.
Garoppolo will not appeal the suspension and will miss the first two games of the 2024 season, according to sources.
Sources said the Raiders are expected to release Garoppolo before the fifth day of the new league year in mid-March, when he will earn an $11.25 million roster bonus. Garoppolo also has a base salary guarantee of $11.25 million for the 2024 season that may now be voided due to the suspension.
The quarterback signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract that included $33.75 million guaranteed with Las Vegas in March, when Josh McDaniels was the team’s head coach and Dave Ziegler was the general manager.
Antonio Pierce is now the coach and Tom Telesco is the general manager, with no relationship or commitment to Garoppolo. The Raiders may be looking to add another quarterback in the draft, with some around the league believing Las Vegas could make a strong play to trade up from the No. 13 pick they currently have.
Once the Raiders officially release Garoppolo, they will have two quarterbacks on their roster, Aidan O’Connell and veteran Brian Hoyer, who also had ties to McDaniels and Ziegler during their time together in New England.
The 32-year-old Garoppolo is expected to be looking for his third team in as many seasons, having played with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022 before he left to sign with the Raiders as a free agent in 2023.
Under NFL rules, he will be allowed to participate in all offseason activities and training camp with any team, but once the regular season begins, he will be banned from his new team for two weeks due to the suspension. .
