Cowboys DE Hit With Multi-Game NFL Suspension to Start 2026 Season

The Dallas Cowboys are a little over two weeks away from reporting to training camp, and the team got some pretty unfortunate news on Tuesday.

Dallas had a pretty eventful offseason, adding several key pieces to its roster in Pro Bowl edge-rusher Rashan Gary, 100-tackle linebacker Dee Winters, rookie first-round safety Caleb Downs, rookie first-round edge-rusher Malachi Lawrence, safety Jalen Thompson, and cornerback Decobie Bryant.

But when the team heads to MetLife Stadium in Week 1 to face the division rival New York Giants, it will have to do so without one member of its defense, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"Cowboys DE Charles Snowden has been suspended for the first three games of the season, per today's wire," Schefter posted on X. "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.'"

Snowden signed a one-year, $1.075 million contract with the Cowboys in the offseason. Missing out on three game checks will cost him approximately $189,705.

The 28-year-old spent the first two seasons of his career with the Las Vegas Raiders. He totaled 67 tackles, six passes defended, 4.5 sacks, and an interception while playing in 31 games, including 18 starts.

Given the Cowboys' revamped pass-rush, which includes Gary, Lawrence, and rookie third-rounder Jaishawn Barham, plus incumbents Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Houston, it's unlikely Snowden would've cracked the starting lineup.

However, with the pass-rush issues Dallas had last season, the team certainly needs all the healthy and available bodies it can get. Losing Snowden is an inconvenient blow to the Cowboys defense, but likely not one that will debilitate the team.

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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 2:05 PM.