KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith, who is serving a three-game NFL suspension for a violation of its substance abuse policy, remains with the Chiefs for meetings and certain other team-related activities.
He was in the Chiefs’ locker room with his teammates following Friday’s practice. He is not allowed to practice, and he wasn’t on the field when the Chiefs were working during the small portion of this week’s sessions that were open to the media. He is allowed to use the team's workout facility.
A change in the NFL’s substance policy this year allowed Smith to be at the Chiefs’ practice facility during his suspension. Formerly, suspended players were not allowed to be at the facility during the length of the suspension.
“[T]he Player shall be eligible, at the discretion of the Club, to participate in all in-season Club functions, training programs and meetings, but not in any in-season games or practices,’’ the NFL’s policy reads.
Smith was arrested for DUI in Kansas City last year. He pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year and shortly before the start of training camp was given the three-game suspension.
Rookie Marcus Peters and Phillip Gaines will start at cornerback in Sunday’s season opener against the Houston Texans.