The National Football League has suspended Buffalo Bills TE Shawn Nelson 4 games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Nelson's suspension will begin September 4th and he will be forbidden at the Bills' facilities until October 4th.

Nelson was expected to be the starting TE in Buffalo this season, but Michael Matthews and Jonathan Stupar had been getting reps ahead of Nelson in training camp.

Nelson was a fourth round pick in 2009. His suspension will cost him just over $92,000.

WKBW in Buffalo was the first to report the news.