Update: Confusion abounds over Randy Gregory’s suspension status

The Dallas Cowboys will get one of their suspended defenders back sooner than they thought.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano is reporting that defensive end Randy Gregory will only serve a four-game ban for violating the substance abuse policy.

The Cowboys have known for a while that Gregory would have to serve at least a four-game suspension, but it was feared that the NFL might increase it to 10 games. He violated the policy again in July.

This does not mean that Gregory will return to the Cowboys for the fifth game at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.

ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that Gregory has not reported to training camp because he is still in a drug rehabilitation facility. That commitment to sobriety is a part of the reason the NFL chose not to extend his suspension.

The All-American from the University of Nebraska was considered as consensus top-10 talent going into the 2015 NFL draft. However, he failed a drug test at the combine. He was also late for his pre-draft interviews, which contributed to concerns about whether he could withstand the “mental rigors” of professional football.

He fell all the way to the second round and did not record a single sack in his rookie season.

Suspension is a word to describe the Cowboys defense going into the 2016 season. Linebacker Rolando McClain is serving a 10-game ban for violating the substance abuse policy, and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is serving a four-game suspension for the same offense.

Update:

According Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio there is some serious confusion in the reporting on Randy Gregory’s suspension. NFL Networks’ Ian Rappaport, initially having sources that also said Gregory’s ban would be reduced, is now reporting that Gregory’s appeal is still pending.

There was some reporting in the earlier ESPN story from Ed Werder saying that no one had officially notified the defensive end to tell him his suspension had been reduced.

In other words, there is no update on the Randy Gregory situation. He is in a drug rehabilitation facility. The NFL could reduce his suspension from 10 games to four games, but no decision has been reached yet.