David Onyemata, New Orleans Saints, Curtis Samuel, Carolina Panthers. (Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata has been suspended six games for PEDs.
While a suspension had been looming for some time, we now know New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata will miss six games this fall for violating the NFL‘s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Onyemata is coming off a career-year with the Saints, one where he had 44 combined tackles and 6.5 sacks in 15 starts for New Orleans. 2021 will be his sixth season with the Saints after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Manitoba. The Saints are the four-time defending NFC South champions, but have the Super Bowl champions playing in their division.
This is brutal news for a Saints team that many people are largely expect to regress this season.
New Orleans Saints DT David Onyemata suspended six games for PEDs
The Saints have been atop the NFC South’s highest perch for the last four seasons. However, the second-place team from a season ago just won Super Bowl 55 in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They are expected to win their first division crown in well over a decade. One should expect either the Atlanta Falcons or the Carolina Panthers to be significantly better than they were a year ago.
Add in the Saints transitioning from Drew Brees to presumably Jameis Winston at starting quarterback and New Orleans has the potential to experience major regression this year. Of course, Sean Payton is a phenomenal offensive coach and the defense has been amazing ever since Dennis Allen arrived. However, not having Onyemata for six games is still a crushing loss.
The Saints will need to adjust to a month-and-a-half without Onyemata this upcoming season.