Charles Snowden earned a contract with the Dallas Cowboys just this summer. But now he’s being sidelined by the league—because of a traffic incident.

No sooner had he arrived than he was taken off the road. Charles Snowden, the new linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, has been suspended by the NFL for the first three games of the season. The reason is a violation of the league’s code of conduct; the player was caught driving under the influence of alcohol in 2024.

Earlier this year, Snowden had already been fined $1,000 and ordered to attend coroner’s courses and classes on drunk driving as a result of the offense. According to “ESPN,” the charge will be reduced to reckless driving provided he fulfills the terms of his agreement.

According to the NFL, despite his suspension, Snowden is “eligible to participate in all preseason activities—including games; his suspension will take effect when the roster is reduced to 53 players.” He will therefore miss the division matchups against the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders, as well as the game against the Baltimore Ravens; his first regular-season game for “America’s Team” could take place on October 4 against the Houston Texans.

Cowboys Player Suspended by the NFL: Contract Signed Just in June

Snowden had only signed a contract worth $1.075 million for the upcoming season on June 18, after proving himself at the mandatory minicamp. It would have been his third season in the NFL.

The 28-year-old entered the league undrafted in 2021 and immediately played in two games for the Chicago Bears. In the following years, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Las Vegas Raiders. With the Raiders, Snowden made 31 appearances over the past two seasons, recording 67 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one interception.