ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has been excused from the team to enter a rehabilitation facility.
Dareus announced the decision in a statement released by the Bills on Saturday, hours before their preseason game against the New York Giants.
It comes a week after the NFL suspended the Bills' top-paid player for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Last year, he was suspended for the season opener for another violation of the policy.
Dareus said his latest suspension was the result of a missed drug test.
The Bills released a statement saying they support Dareus' decision and that he should "take the time he needs to seek treatment."
Also on Saturday, the Bills released Running back Karlos Williams hours before their preseason game against the New York Giants.
The move comes a little over a month after the NFL suspended Williams for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
In June, he raised concerns with the team for showing up overweight to Buffalo's mandatory minicamp. Williams was so out of shape that he missed the first two weeks of training camp before being cleared for practice on Monday.
Williams vowed he had learned his lesson.
