Ravens offensive lineman James Hurst has been suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the team announced Feb. 14.

Hurst is eligible to participate in the team’s offseason activities, training camp and preseason games. The suspension begins at the start of the regular season.

Hurst, 28, has been something of a utility offensive lineman throughout his six NFL seasons, making 19 starts at left guard, 16 and left tackle, seven at right tackle and two as an extra tight end in jumbo packages. This past season, Hurst played in all 16 games with two starts at left tackle.

Hurst originally made the Ravens as an undrafted rookie out of North Carolina in 2014.

After starting all 16 games in 2017, Hurst signed a four-year, $17.5 million extension with the Ravens on the eve of free agency in 2018. He is due to make $4 million this year, and he has been mentioned as a potential cap casualty, as his release would clear $2.75 million in cap space.

Earlier this month, the Ravens re-signed veteran offensive tackle Andre Smith to a one-year deal, and Smith, who joined the Ravens in the final week of the season, could fill Hurst’s backup tackle role.

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Bo Smolka

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