On Tuesday, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman had his four-game suspension appeal denied.

Julian Edelman’s Suspension Appeal Denied

The 32-year-old was banned for the first four games of next season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Edelman is still eligible to play in all preseason games and practices, however.

There were two main issues the wideout had raised as part of his appeal: First, the drug for which he tested positive was not formally recognized by NFL drug examiners. Additionally, the league reportedly mishandled documents pertaining to Edelman’s test results and their delivery.

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Edelman was sidelined for all of last season after rupturing his ACL during the preseason. Next fall, he will miss the Patriots’ games against Houston, Jacksonville, Detroit and Miami. His first game of 2018 will thus be an October 4 home matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Edelman recently helped stop a potential school shooting after seeing a threatening post on social media and reporting it to authorities. His case comes shortly after that of Reuben Foster. The San Francisco 49ers linebacker was suspended two games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct and substance abuse rules. Foster was arrested twice this offseason: in January for drug possession and then later on domestic violence and firearm possession charges. The linebacker’s former girlfriend had accused him of allegedly assaulting her, but then retracted her comments shortly afterwards.

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Foster, 24, was a first-round (No. 31) draft pick for the 49ers out of Alabama — where he was a three-time SEC champion — in 2017. He logged 72 tackles last season.

Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has said that Ezekiel Elliott will continue to practice for the team until someone explicitly tells the running back not to because he remains suspended.

Ezekiel Elliott Suspension Appeal News

“We’re just going to prepare for the Giants, and Zeke will practice until someone tells him not to,” Garrett said, via ESPN.com. “And the other guys will get ready to play.”

The second-year rusher received a six-game ban from the NFL in August for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Elliott, 22, has been investigated following allegations of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson. 

The Cowboys are set to host the New York Giants on Sunday night for their season opener.

The NFL ruled late Monday night that Elliott does not have the legal standing to challenge his suspension in federal court.

The NFL Players Association filed a petition to vacate Elliott’s ban and requested a temporary restraining order hours after the running back’s three-day appeals hearing ended on Thursday. The NFL-appointed arbitrator, Harold Henderson, has yet to issue his ruling on Elliott’s appeal, although NFL Network insiders reported it is believed Henderson has to make a decision by 4 pm EST on Tuesday, otherwise Elliott is allowed to play on Sunday.

“The NFLPA also lacks standing to seek a contingent order preemptively challenging an award that clearly has not yet (and may never) cause it or Ezekiel Elliott any harm,” Eric Gambrell, a lawyer representing the NFL, wrote in one of the two filings presented. “And the NFLPA’s claim is unripe to boot, as even the NFLPA acknowledges that the arbitrator’s forthcoming award could still afford the NFLPA all the relief it seeks.”

Elliott missed most of last week’s practices while attending his two-and-a-half-day suspension appeal hearing.

“I think Zeke has done an excellent job focusing on what he needs to do to get himself ready to play,” Garrett said. “I think our team has done that and just a normal day. We came in and we had meeting and walk-through on Saturday and he was part of it, our whole team was a part of it, and again, our preparation for the Giants is begun.”

Elliott most recently claimed that Thompson bragged to him about sleeping with one of his former teammates, wide receiver Lucky Whitehead. 

It appears that a decision will likely come on Tuesday evening.

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)