SEATTLE — Having to travel across the country with a rusty quarterback and a hobbled receiving corps is difficult enough, and now the Seattle Seahawks will have to make the trip without two of their defensive veterans.
The NFL announced Saturday that starting defensive tackle Rocky Bernard and reserve defensive back Jordan Babineaux will be suspended for next Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills because of separate off-the-field issues.
A press release put out by the league stated that Babineaux has been suspended for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. The statement said that Babineaux’s suspension began Saturday and will end the Monday after the Buffalo game.
The NFL statement added that Babineaux will be suspended without pay and will also be fined an additional game check.
Babineaux can play both safety and cornerback and has seen most of his action in nickel situations. Without him, the Seahawks will have to rely on second-year cornerbacks Josh Wilson and Kevin Hobbs to fill the nickel role.
The only backup safety available against Buffalo is C.J. Wallace.
In the wake of Bernard’s suspension, Craig Terrill appears to be a likely candidate to start at defensive tackle. Terrill started two games last season because of injuries at the position.
Bernard’s suspension was less surprising _ publicly _ than that of Babineaux because of a high-profile arrest last April. Bernard was charged with domestic violence assault and spent a night in jail. When the case went to trial, he was given a 24-month continuance, meaning the charges will be dropped if he adheres to a list of stipulations.
Bernard was suspended because of a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The NFL statement announcing his suspensio n did not mention him losing any pay during the time he is out.
Both players are still on the 53-man roster, even though they are ineligible to practice or play in the Buffalo game.
Bernard has been with the Seahawks since 2002 and was a full-time starter in each of the past two seasons. Seattle has plenty of depth at the position, having kept five defensive tackles on the active roster.
Veteran Howard Green and rookie Red Bryant represent the depth behind starters Terrill and Brandon Mebane, while starting defensive end Lawrence Jackson is expected to see significant time at defensive tackle in nickel situations this season.
Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who pled guilty to a May driving-under-the-influence charge and was sentenced to a night in jail, was not disciplined by the league on Saturday.
Although Tatupu is battling a sore knee, he is expected to be available for the Buffalo game. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who missed most of the preseason with a sore back, is also expected back this week.
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