{
  "id": 909882,
  "title": "Bills Lose Veteran Defensive Tackle to Multi-Game NFL Suspension",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/bills-lose-veteran-defensive-tackle-to-multi-game-nfl-suspension",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-14T20:51:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/bills-lose-veteran-defensive-tackle-to-multi-game-nfl-suspension-12325443"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Buffalo Bills will be without veteran defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis for the first three games of the 2026 NFL season. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Mathis has been suspended without pay due to a violation of the NFL's substances of abuse policy. The suspension is set to begin on August 30 and Mathis is expected to be reinstated on September 28. The reason behind the suspension reportedly stems from an alcohol-related incident that occurred in the spring of 2025 while Mathis was playing for the New York Jets. At 28 years old, Mathis joined the Bills last season after being released by the Jets, where he recorded 13 tackles in six games. Prior to his time with the Jets, Mathis had played for the Washington Commanders, where he began his career. During his time with the Commanders from 2023-25, Mathis accumulated 25 tackles, one fumble recovery, and one pass defensed. The Bills will now need to rely on their other defensive line players, including Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, Zane Durant, and Zion Logue, to help fill the void left by Mathis' absence. A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Mathis showcased his skills at the University of Alabama, where he posted impressive statistics from 2018-21, including 129 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and five passes defensed.",
  "summary": "The Buffalo Bills will be without one of their defensive tackles to start the year.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}