Buffalo Bills DT Marcell Dareus is looking at a 4-game suspension by NFL

The Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to face the Buffalo Bills at home in week 1 of the 2016 regular season and the Bills look like a team that is going to have quite a few players out via suspension or by injury.

In this case, Bills Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is facing a four game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Dareus served a one game suspension in week 1 of the 2015 season for the same violation which means he is a repeat offender.

Dareus can appeal the suspension, but either way it is highly likely that he will miss the week 1 matchup against the Ravens which is a big deal considering the Ravens running back situation looks to have quality depth in Justin Forsett, Terrance West, Kenneth Dixon and Buck Allen.

Not to mention, Dareus is also a pass rushing threat as he has registered 30.5 sacks in his first five seasons in the NFL and he is absence should give Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco a little bit more room to step in the pocket.

The hits keep coming for the Bills especially on defense as last week the team learned that 2016 second round draft pick linebacker Reggie Ragland will miss the entire 2016 season due to a torn ACL. Bills 2016 first round draft pick Shaq Lawson, is expected to miss at least the first three games of the 2016 regular season as he rehabs after having shoulder surgery.

On the offensive side of the ball, Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins is still healing from a broken foot and running back Karlos Williams is suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the 2016 regular season.

Lawson and Ragland are expected to the future of the Bills defense and it is safe to say that Bills head coach Rex Ryan has to live up to his defensive guru status early on in the 2016 season for the Bills stay in the race for the AFC East title.