The Dallas Cowboys got defensive end Charles Snowden in free agency back in June, but it looks like his Cowboys debut will have to wait, even if that still plans on happening, as the former Raiders DE was hit with a three-game suspension in the 2026 regular season, per the NFL's transactions wire.
Snowden will be allowed to participate in preseason activities, but the suspension will be for the regular season. The suspension stems from a 2024 DUI arrest, which violates the NFL's personal conduct policy. A no-contest plea was accepted in January of this year, but the NFL still has its own rulebook.
But for the Cowboys, they should be OK whether or not he stays on the roster past the preseason. The NFL also said the suspension will take effect after the roster reduction to 53 players.
Cowboys DE Charles Snowden has been suspended for the first three regular-season games
It seems as if the Raiders already knew something that no one else did, or at least something their front office could've predicted.
Mitchell Renz of Raiders Report made a video two months ago about why the Raiders moved on from Snowden, saying they had been trying to avoid a suspension, and why they got rid of him. Nonetheless, it's Jerry Jones' issue now, and it seemed like after such a quiet offseason, the NFL gods had to do something to make it loud in Dallas.
Even if Snowden makes the 53-man roster, the Cowboys can still do plenty of damage without him. He was quietly signed as a taller, more physical DL, but it looks like they already have pieces for that.
With still something to prove, Snowden is 28 and 6-foot-6. He's got quite the frame, but he's in a battle behind Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence and Sam Williams. Even if the Cowboys keep him during the three-game suspension, they aren't likely to miss much.
In the last two seasons with Las Vegas, Snowden racked up 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. In his Raiders career, he played in 31 games and started in 18. He made his NFL debut with the Chicago Bears in 2021 but only played two games.
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