Cardinals’ Zay Jones suspended for teams’ first 5 games

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones has been suspended without pay for the first five weeks of the season, the NFL announced Friday . Jones was suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, stemming from an arrest this past November in an alleged domestic violence incident.

The arrest occurred on November 13, when Jones allegedly got into an argument with the mother of his child. This incident reportedly escalated and the woman was injured during the altercation, suffering a neck injury in the process. Jones was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.

The charges against Jones were dropped in March of this year, but the incident and subsequent arrest and charges were enough for the league to deem Jones had violated the policy. The suspension would mean Jones will be unavailable for the team’s first five games of the season, matchups against the Buffalo Bills , Los Angeles Rams , Detroit Lions , Washington Commanders , and San Francisco 49ers .

Jones figured to be a big part of the Cardinals’ offense in 2024 as a free agent acquisition from the Jacksonville Jaguars . Jones struggled with injury in 2023, but was a big part of the Jaguars offense in 2022, seeing a career high in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. The Cardinals had hoped Jones could come in and provide the wide receiver corps with another reliable target to complement tight end Trey McBride and rookie Marvin Harrison, Jr.

Jones signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals in the off-season that was worth up to $2.25 million and included $650,000 in guarantees and a $20,000 per game roster bonus. Jones will be eligible to return to the team prior to their Week 6 game against the Green Bay Packers .