Randy Gregory is hoping the NFL will end his latest suspension in time for him to participate in training camp.
According to a Dallas Morning News report, the Cowboys defensive end plans to petition the league for reinstatement within the next 10 days.
He is serving his fourth suspension since entering the league in 2015 after violating the terms of the conditional reinstatement that allowed him to return to the field in 2018 after missing all of the previous season.
A second-round pick by Dallas in 2015, Gregory previously was suspended for 14 total games in 2016 after failing a pair of drug tests (four games the first time, 10 the second time). After a brief return to the field, he was then banned for the entire 2017 campaign as well. In 16 regular-season NFL games, he has seven sacks and 34 total tackles.
The Morning News cited an unidentified source saying Gregory hasn't failed or missed a drug test during his current suspension, but that doesn't mean he'll automatically get a pass from the NFL.
The report notes the league could allow the 26-year-old to participate in training camp and preseason games but force him to sit out a to-be-determined number of games once the regular season begins.
Either way, the Cowboys clearly haven't given up on the defensive end. They signed him to an extension through the 2020 season in April, more than a month after the NFL handed down his most recent disciplinary action.
“I don’t think you can count on him right now,” coach Jason Garrett said of Gregory this spring. “Hopefully we’ve built our team up to the point where we don’t have these blatant needs. … There’s certainly a point [you cut ties] with different players. We don’t think we’re at that point with Randy right now.
“He’ll continue to work and try to get professional help for his issues. I do believe he’s made great strides in this area and the way it’s been explained to me is sometimes, relapse is part of rehab. I think that’s something he’ll continue to work through.”
The Cowboys' first preseason practice is scheduled for July 27 in Oxnard, California.
