Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon has been suspended indefinitely without pay for a repeat violation of the NFL substance abuse program, the league said Friday.
Blackmon will be eligible to apply for reinstatement prior to the start of the 2014 season.
The Jaguars said they would evaluate Blackmon’s status “once he has successfully met the criteria to be considered for reinstatement to the league.”
Blackmon, 23, served a four-game suspension at the start of this season for his second substance abuse violation in less than a year.
He pleaded guilty to a drunk driving charge in July 2012 for an incident that happened that June, shortly after Jacksonville made him the fifth overall selection in the NFL draft.
On Friday, he said he would “address these matters with the type of intensity I usually direct toward my on-field play so that I can be ready to be a productive member of the team and community next season.”
Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said the team “care very deeply about Justin and his well-being”.
But he added that the player “must be held accountable and accept the consequences announced today by the NFL.”
Blackmon apologized in a statement “for not utilizing the resources that I was provided to overcome my challenges.”
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