![Jameis Winston is expected to begin the 2018 season suspended. - [Image Source: Flickr | Keith Allison]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/6/20/660x290/b_502x220x82/jameis-winston-is-expected-to-begin-the-2018-season-suspended-image-source-flickr-keith-allison_2037457.jpg "Jameis Winston is expected to begin the 2018 season suspended. - [Image Source: Flickr | Keith Allison]")
Jameis Winston, the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is expected to be suspended the first three games of 2018. That is what league sources have told ESPN. The reported suspension stems from an incident that occurred in March of 2016 when Winston allegedly groped a female Uber driver. According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, neither Winston nor the team has been notified of any possible suspension yet.
The first overall pick in 2015, Winston will be missed by Tampa Bay if he is indeed forced to miss the beginning of the season. They did re-sign backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, who performed admirably when Winston missed three games last year.
It looks like Winston will join a group of other NFL players who will be suspended to start the 2018 season. Here are some of the more notable of these players.
Notable offensive players suspended to begin season
- Julian Edelman, Patriots wide receiver
A torn ACL forced Edelman to miss all of 2017. Now he will miss the first four games of 2018 for the New England Patriots with a PED suspension. He caught 98 passes for 1,106 yards in 2016.
- Mark Ingram, Saints running back
Ingram is coming off a phenomenal 2017 season in which he rushed for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns while also compiling 58 receptions. He will miss the first four games for the New Orleans Saints of the upcoming season for violating the substance abuse policy.
Notable defensive players suspended to begin season
- Vontaze Burfict, Bengals linebacker
Burfict has been suspended six games over the last two seasons due to illegal hits, but this will be his first time suspended for PED use. He will miss the Bengals' first four games. Last season, he ended with 69 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in 10 games.
- Thomas Davis, Panthers linebacker
Davis has been named to each of the last three Pro Bowls but will miss the first four games of 2018 due to a PED suspension. The 35-year-old made 76 tackles and had 2 1/2 sacks in 2017.
- David Irving, Cowboys defensive end
Irving will miss the first four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
In just eight games in 2017, he recorded seven sacks.
- Cory Liuget, Chargers defensive tackle
A first-round pick of the Chargers in 2011, Liuget has started 100 games over seven seasons for the team. He has 22 1/2 career sacks with 1 1/2 coming last year in 12 games. He will be suspended the first four games for PEDs.
- Josh Mauro, Giants defensive lineman
A PED suspension will force Mauro to miss the Giants' first four games after joining the team as a free agent. He had one sack while starting seven of his 13 appearances with the Cardinals last season.
