The New York Jets have a ton of hype surrounding them with the addition of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately, one player will not be taking part in their season-opening matchup against the Buffalo Bills after being suspended on Thursday.
Third-year cornerback Brandin Echols has been with the team since being drafted by the organization in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He played in 13 games for the organization last season, but will be starting behind the 8-ball in 2023.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported that Echols has been suspended by the NFL for the first game of the season.
The NFL suspended #Jets DB Brandin Echols for the first game of the 2023 season, per the wire.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 25, 2023
He added that this is due to Echols violating the league’s personal conduct policy after he was involved in a high-speed crash that left another driver with a severe spinal cord injury.
Brandin Echols’ suspension is for a violation of the personal conduct policy, I’m told. He was accepted into a diversionary program earlier this year, related to his role in a high-speed crash in 2022. https://t.co/DwgLgHLzmn
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 25, 2023
Echols was issued a number of charges by the Florham Park Police in January, including reckless driving, speeding, unsafe lane change, improper passing, and failure to wear a seatbelt. He was accepted in a diversionary program to avoid assault by auto charges for the injuries dealt to the other driver involved in the crash.
This is obviously a blow to a Jets team that has high hopes of starting their season off right with a win over their division rivals in Week 1.