Why was Cowboys DE Sam Williams suspended by the NFL?

After several months of investigation, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a punishment for Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams for violating one of the league’s policies. The news comes after the Cowboys just suffered their fourth loss of the season to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Why Sam Williams is suspended and what it means for him

Sam Williams was already going to miss this entire season with a torn ACL injury, so his suspension isn’t big news on that front. However, it does still make a difference for the player himself.

The NFL found that Williams violated the Personal Conduct Policy after he was charged by local police for reckless driving in 2023.

The league announced that he will serve a three-Game suspension for the violation, but what does that mean for a player who was already prepared to sit out the season?

Well, importantly, it means Williams will not be paid for three weeks, from Weeks 8-10 of this season. Players on Injured Reserve do still receive payment while they recover, but Williams will not receive compensation for those three weeks. Once he is recovered, Williams will not actually miss any additional time in the 2025 season due to this suspension.