Bills' Phidarian Mathis banned 3 games for substance violation

Field Level Media|published: Fri 14th August, 21:47 2026

Bills Phidarian Mathis hits the pad during a drill at Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford on Aug. 6, 2026.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis received a three-game suspension on Friday from the NFL, which cited a violation of its substances of abuse policy.

According to ESPN, the punishment was in response to "an alcohol-related incident" from the spring of 2025 when Mathis was on the New York Jets' roster. The Jets released him in the summer of 2025, and he signed with the Bills last fall.

Mathis, 28, came off the Buffalo bench to appear in six games last season, recording 13 tackles. He has been fighting to make the Bills' roster this year, and he can play in the preseason until the suspension kicks in on Aug. 30 ahead of the team's regular-season opener at the Houston Texans on Sept. 13.

A second-round pick of the Commanders in 2022, Mathis has played in 29 games, all as a reserve, for Washington (2022-24) and Buffalo (2025). He has amassed 38 tackles (two for loss), one pass defensed and one fumble recovery.

--Field Level Media

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