Bashaud Breeland announces suspension, but Chiefs’ Reid still confident in team’s depth
Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland announced via social media that he will serve a four-game NFL-imposed suspension to start the 2020 season.
Breeland was arrested earlier this year, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the suspension is for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.
“As previously announced by the League, I have received a 4 game suspension for off-the-field matters,” Breeland wrote on Instagram. “I post this today because I want to apologize, publicly, to the entire Chiefs organization, my coaches, teammates, family and fans. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I look forward to getting back on the field with my teammates to defend our Super Bowl Title.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid didn’t acknowledge ESPN’s early report Wednesday afternoon, but he said after practice that the team’s depth at cornerback was sufficient to start the season without Breeland.
“Time will tell here as we go, but we got a good nucleus of guys and it will all sort out here in the next couple of weeks,” Reid said. “Everybody is working hard, getting a lot of reps, which is good, and we should be fine there.”
The Chiefs do appear to have numerous options on their roster to line up opposite of Charvarius Ward. Second-year pro Rashad Fenton, who can play inside and outside, has received a lot of work during team drills through five training camp practices and will likely get the first shot to fill in for Breeland.
The Chiefs also signed Antonio Hamilton to a one-year deal during free agency, and then drafted cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and BoPete Keyes. Chris Lammons, who spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad last season, is another option for the team to consider.
The Star’s Sam Mellinger wrote in April that the Chiefs were aware that a suspension for Breeland was possible — following his arrest on multiple charges in South Carolina — when they re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 4:45 PM.
