Saints' Beanie Bishop suspended for three games

Violation of NFL's substances of abuse policy leads to ban to start 2026 season

Mar. 18, 2026 at 2:22am

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The NFL has suspended New Orleans Saints running back Beanie Bishop for the first three games of the 2026 regular season. The league did not specify the reason for the suspension, but reports indicate it was due to a violation of the NFL's substances of abuse policy. Bishop will be able to participate in offseason activities and preseason games, but he will miss the first three regular season contests.

Why it matters

Bishop had a significant role for the Saints as a rookie in 2024 but did not see any NFL action last year, spending the season on the practice squads of both the Saints and Steelers. This suspension will impact the Saints' backfield depth to start the 2026 season.

The details

The NFL announced the three-game suspension for Bishop, but did not provide details on the specific violation that led to the ban. Reports indicate it was related to the league's substances of abuse policy. Bishop will be able to participate in offseason workouts and preseason games, but he will miss the first three regular season contests for the Saints.

  • The NFL announced the suspension on March 18, 2026.
  • Bishop will miss the first three games of the 2026 regular season.

The players

Beanie Bishop

A running back for the New Orleans Saints who was suspended for the first three games of the 2026 NFL season.

New Orleans Saints

The NFL team that Beanie Bishop plays for, who will be without him for the first three games of the 2026 season due to his suspension.

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What they’re saying

“The league didn't mention the reason for the suspension in its announcement, but Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that it was for a violation of the NFL's substances of abuse policy.”

— Katherine Terrell, ESPN.com reporter (ESPN.com)

What’s next

The Saints will need to adjust their backfield plans for the first three games of the 2026 season while Beanie Bishop serves his suspension.

The takeaway

This suspension highlights the importance of players adhering to the NFL's substance abuse policy, as even promising young talents like Beanie Bishop can face significant discipline for violations. The Saints will have to find a way to compensate for his absence to start the 2026 campaign.