NFL bans Pittsburgh Steelers CB for eight games

PITTSBURGH – The NFL has suspended Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton without pay for the first eight games of the 2024 regular season for violating the league’s conduct rules. This comes after Sutton struggled with legal issues related to domestic violence off the field during the offseason.

“The NFL investigated the March incident involving Sutton and concluded that he violated the Rules of Conduct,” the league wrote in a statement.

In March, a warrant was issued for Sutton’s arrest for aggravated assault – domestic violence. He eventually turned himself in to Orient Road Jail in Tampa, Florida, and his charge was reduced to assault, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. He

“Both Mr. Sutton and the mother of his children request privacy in this matter as they view this as a family matter and wish to resolve it as a family,” Sutton’s attorneys Todd Foster and Jason Setchen said in a statement following his release.

During these legal difficulties, Sutton was released by the Detroit Lions after just one season. He started all 17 games for the Lions last season after signing a three-year contract. He then returned to the Steelers on a veteran’s minimum contract worth just over $1 million for the 2024 season. Sutton spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Steelers after being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Sutton will be eligible to return to NFL action on Oct. 29, one day after the team’s primetime showdown against the New York Giants in Week 8. They have a bye in Week 9.

Without Sutton, the Steelers could look to add another veteran name like Patrick Peterson to their roster. Additionally, former Baltimore Ravens nickelback Anthony Averett and undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop are competing for a roster spot behind Sutton.

Steelers defensive backs coach Grady Brown said during OTAs that the team is preparing for a Sutton suspension by giving new players more playing time.

“That’s what we’re doing right now, just giving guys reps,” Brown said. “(Sutton) doesn’t take every rep as a nickel, he doesn’t take every snap as a corner. We’re trying to make sure we’re using multiple guys and evaluating them at that position.”

The Steelers have the entirety of training camp to decide which direction they will go in during Sutton’s absence. Training camp begins on July 24.

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