Report: Former Cardinals DT Robert Nkemdiche suspended 2 weeks

Former Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle and first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche was suspended by the NFL for two weeks, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Yates’ report did not give a reason for the suspension.

Nkemdiche is a free agent, but most recently played for the Miami Dolphins before being waived on Nov. 5. He played only 18 defensive snaps in Miami over two games.

Nkemdiche’s dismissal from the Dolphins earlier this month was followed up by a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo, who said “tardiness was a bit of an issue” for Nkemdiche, though it wasn’t clear how much that was a factor in his being waived, if at all.

The 26th overall pick in 2016 has had plenty of off-the-field issues throughout his football career, even before he joined the NFL.

Him being picked late in the first round in itself had to do with him sliding in the draft after he fell from a hotel window while he was a player at Ole Miss. The incident earned him a suspension and he missed the team’s Sugar Bowl appearance.

With the Cardinals, Nkemdiche was inconsistent in 27 games over three seasons. He never played more than 12 games in those three years and started only six times, all in 2018. This year, he showed up to training camp out of shape and was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

He also had legal issues over the summer as was arrested in early June for speeding and driving on a suspended license. Police found a white powdery substance in the center console of Nkemdiche’s car, where a credit card holder resided. The substance was not tested and was impounded with Nkemdiche’s approval.

The Cardinals cut Nkemdiche in July.

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