NFL Announces Suspension for Cowboys Defender Ahead of 2026 Season
· Yahoo Sports
The Dallas Cowboys signed defensive end Charles Snowden to their roster after the Las Vegas Raiders waived him in May. Snowden arrived in Dallas after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge in January, after an incident during his career in Las Vegas two years ago.
Cowboys Defensive End Suspended for Three Games
Snowden was arrested in December 2024 after falling asleep in a running vehicle with a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit. The defensive end’s attorneys submitted a no-contest plea, which will reduce the charge to reckless driving if he completes the terms of his plea. He was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and attend DUI courses.
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On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed on X that the NFL had suspended Snowden for three games for his DUI. He will miss games against the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Baltimore Ravens before returning.
“Cowboys DE Charles Snowden has been suspended for the first three games of the season, per today’s wire. Snowden, per the NFL, ‘is eligible to participate in all preseason activities, including games; his suspension will take effect as of the roster reduction to 53 players,'” Schefter wrote.
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Snowden was a two-sport athlete in high school, choosing to play college football for the Virginia Cavaliers over college basketball for the St. Francis Red Flash. He earned second-team All-ACC honors in his final season at Virginia before going pro.
Snowden was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent after the 2021 NFL Draft. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their practice squad in 2022, signed a reserve/future contract in 2023, and was finally waived the same year.
After leaving Tampa, Snowden was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad in 2023. He spent his time in Las Vegas moving between being waived and being re-signed to the practice squad before finally being let go this year.
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The defensive end signed with the Cowboys in June 2026 after a tryout, but his nascent Dallas career will be cut short by a suspension.
Snowden earned a PFN Edge Rusher Impact score of 72.5 after tallying 3 sacks, 4 quarterback hit, and 5 tackles for loss. The defensive end has managed 67 total tackles (35 solo), 4.5 sacks, and 11 QB hits in 33 games played during his NFL career.
Snowden was likely to be buried beneath the depth chart in Dallas, with edge rushers Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku the prime options for the Cowboys. In addition, Dallas selected Malachi Lawrence No. 23 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.