Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton has been handed an eight-game suspension by the NFL for his involvement in a domestic violence incident. The suspension comes after Sutton’s arrest in March, where he was accused of battering a woman in Lutz, Florida. The specific details of the incident have not been disclosed.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Sutton will not be appealing the suspension. The 29-year-old cornerback was wanted for domestic violence charges in Hillsborough County on March 20. Shortly after, the Detroit Lions released Sutton from his three-year, $33 million contract, only one year into the deal.
Sutton faced criticism for allegedly evading authorities for two weeks following the release of his warrant. He eventually turned himself in on March 31. On April 8, Sutton entered a pretrial diversion program, which required him to undergo a mental health evaluation and relinquish possession of any weapons.
Despite his ongoing legal situation, Sutton reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year, $1.2 million veteran minimum deal on June 5. The former third-round pick had spent his first six seasons in the NFL with the Steelers, establishing himself as an underrated cornerback. In the 2022 season, Sutton earned a 71.6 overall Pro Football Focus grade, with a 70.4 coverage grade that ranked 22nd among cornerbacks who played 900 or more snaps.
However, Sutton’s performance declined during his first season with the Detroit Lions in 2023, finishing as the lowest-graded cornerback to play over 1,000 snaps.
Sutton’s suspension will begin immediately, and he will be eligible to return to the field in Week 10 after the Steelers’ bye week. The team, already anticipating the suspension, had relied on Sutton’s presence in their thin and revamped secondary. With Sutton out, the Steelers will now turn to second-year standout Joey Porter Jr. and recently acquired veteran Donte Jackson to fill the void.
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Did you know that according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States? This statistic highlights the importance of addressing and raising awareness about domestic violence in our society.