OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with Marcus Gilbert #77 and Max Starks #78 after the Steelers scored their first touchdown against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 23, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be missing an offensive lineman for their next four games.
The team revealed on Monday that 29-year-old right tackle Marcus Gilbert has been suspended without pay for breaking the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
“We are disappointed that Marcus Gilbert has been suspended four games for using performance-enhancing substances. He will not appeal the NFL’s decision,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in statement.
“The suspension is effective immediately, and he will not be permitted in the building until after the suspension has concluded following our game on Dec. 17.”
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Gilbert issued this apology on Twitter shortly afterwards:
Gilbert will thus miss Sunday’s matchup against the Packers, as well as games against the Bengals, Ravens and Patriots. When he returns, Pittsburgh will have only two regular-season games remaining: a tilt against the Texans and then a home contest against the Browns for the season finale.
According to Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-6, 330-pound Gilbert is the league’s 11th-ranked tackle. He has been with the Steelers since 2011, when he was drafted as a second-round pick out of Florida.
With a reported base salary of $4 million, the ban will cost Gilbert $1 million.
Pittsburgh will now likely turn to offensive tackles Chris Hubbard and Jerald Hawkins, although neither is as prolific as Gilbert.
On Tuesday, the Steelers offense suffered another blow: rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is dealing with a hamstring injury. For the season, Smith-Schuster has 33 receptions for 568 yards and five touchdowns.
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with Marcus Gilbert #77 and Max Starks #78 after the Steelers scored their first touchdown against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 23, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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