Zay Jones was in line to work as the Arizona Cardinals‘ WR4 after joining the team this offseason, but the veteran pass catcher won’t be available at the start this year.
On Friday, the NFL suspended Jones for the first five games of the 2024 campaign for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
NFL Suspends Cardinals WR Zay Jones
Jones, 29, was arrested last November and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.
While the Florida state attorney’s office dropped Jones’ charge in March, the NFL subsequently conducted its own investigation and decided on a five-game ban, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Cardinals signed Jones to a one-year, $2.25 million contract in May. Jones’ deal with Arizona includes $1.15 million in fully guaranteed money.
Jones spent the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His best campaign came in 2022 when he set career highs in receptions (82) and yards (823) while scoring five touchdowns.
In 2023, knee and hamstring injuries limited Jones to nine games and seven starts. He finished with just 34 catches for 321 yards and two scores.
Jones entered the league as a second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Bills traded him to the then-Oakland Raiders midway through the 2019 season, and Jones remained with the Silver and Black through 2021.
Jones will miss Arizona’s games against the Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and San Francisco 49ers.
Once he returns in Week 6, Jones will likely slot in as the Cardinals’ fourth wideout behind Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch.