Beanie Bishop was not guaranteed a roster spot with the New Orleans Saints heading into 2026, and his chances took another hit this week. The cornerback is facing a three-game suspension to start the season, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.
Bishop can still participate in everything leading up to the regular season. He will be at offseason workouts, training camp, and preseason games without any issues.
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The suspension only kicks in once the season starts, meaning he will miss the Saints’ first three games if he makes the final roster. That is not ideal when one is already on the bubble.
The league has not said why Bishop is being suspended, leaving the situation unclear as offseason work gets underway. However, beat reporter Matthew Paras reported that the cornerback was suspended for violating the NFL‘s substance abuse policy.
The 26-year-old signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia following the 2024 draft. His three-year contract was worth $2,855,000, and he was slated to earn a $960,000 base salary in 2025.
Bishop appeared in all 17 games during his rookie season, recording 45 tackles, two tackles for loss, seven passes defended, and four interceptions.
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Pittsburgh waived him before the season started, then brought him back to the practice squad. He was let go again in early November and landed with New Orleans on their practice squad shortly after.
The Saints are looking at Bishop as a potential fit for the slot corner role that Alontae Taylor occupied in Brandon Staley’s scheme. The early-season suspension complicates things, but the Saints will have time to evaluate whether he is part of their long-term plans once he is eligible to return.
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