Former Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving may receive another chance soon. The NFL granted the veteran defender conditional reinstatement Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Suspended under the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, Irving applied for reinstatement in July. The oft-banned defensive lineman may well have the opportunity to redeem himself under a CBA more lenient (at least, suspension-wise) regarding substance abuse.
The league handed Irving an indefinite ban in March 2019. Unlike Randy Gregory, Irving is no longer under contract with the Cowboys. He is a free agent. It is not certain when Irving will be fully eligible to play, however, so the former UDFA may wait a bit longer before he receives a path back to the field.
Irving, however, may work out for teams under the terms of the conditional reinstatement. It has been a long time since he last played, though. The Iowa State alum has not suited up for a game since October 2018, when an injury and a subsequent personal issue ended his fourth Cowboys season.
Irving, 27, has gone from being prepared to quit football (March 2019) to applying for reinstatement. He has been suspended four times, including once for performance-enhancing substances, but has taken steps to resume his career.
When on the field, the edge and interior pass rusher has shown productivity. Irving recorded seven sacks in eight games in 2017. The Cowboys used him as a starter throughout his abbreviated ’17 season but did not plan to re-sign him after his contract expired following the ’18 campaign.
Two…three…four suspensions. What’s a couple more chances when it’s the NFL?
It’s weed. C’mon
Fill in for the COVID players.
Green New Deal
Holy crap, almost every DL on cowboys has been suspended at one time or another and many multiple times for drugs.
He’s one of the most physically dominant players in the NFL. I hope the Cowboys sign him.