Saints Rookie Quarterback Suspended for Six Games
On Wednesday afternoon, the NFL announced that Saints rookie quarterback Jake Haener will be suspended for the first six games of the regular season. This is due to a violation of the NFL's policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances.
Here's the official statement from the league:
Jake Haener of the New Orleans Saints has been suspended without pay for the first six games of the 2023 regular season for violating the NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances.
Haener will be eligible to return to the Saints' active roster on Monday, Oct. 16, following the team’s Week 6 game at Houston.
This would make sense why Taysom Hill was moved from being classified as a tight end to now being a quarterback when they put out their unofficial depth chart the other day. We're not entirely sure how this will change things up going forward, but it's certainly a shock seeing Haener getting slapped with a suspension. He was at Wednesday's practice.
Haener responded via his personal X (formerly Twitter) account with a statement:
I recently learned that I tested positive for a substance banned by the NFL earlier this summer. I still do not know how the substance got into my body, as none of my supplements or prescribed medications contain the banned ingredient. I would never knowingly cheat the game that I love, however I must take full responsibility for the failed test. I apologize to the Saints organization, my friends and family for any distraction this suspension may cause. I am disappointed to be away from the team for the coming weeks, but I will learn and grow from this experience. I look forward to returning to the team as soon as possible.
Jake
The exact nature of the substance used is unknown, and it will end up costing Haener $250,000. This will free up a roster spot for the Saints, so we'll see how they attack that with the Titans coming to town for Week 1.
