The Sports Xchange

The NFL on Tuesday suspended San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerome Simpson for the first six games of the upcoming season.

The league released a statement to announce the suspension.

“Jerome Simpson of the San Francisco 49ers has been suspended without pay for the first six games of the 2015 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

“Simpson will be eligible to return to the 49ers’ active roster on Monday, October 19 following the team’s October 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

“Simpson is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.”

The league’s move did not catch the 49ers by surprise.

“The probability of a suspension was known when we signed Jerome,” the 49ers said in a statement. “Since joining the 49ers, Jerome has proven to be a great teammate. Although he will not be able to participate in the first six weeks of the season, Jerome has done everything asked of him, both on and off the field.”

Simpson recorded two receptions for 31 yards in Saturday’s preseason loss to Houston.

Simpson, 29, will not count against the 53-man roster limit when the season begins.

Simpson has been arrested three times since January 2012.

In July 2014, he was cited on misdemeanor charges of having marijuana and an open bottle of alcohol in his car while driving with a restricted driver’s license. He was suspended for the first three games of the 2014 season.

His team at the time, the Vikings, cut him at that point and he did not play at all last season.

The current suspension presumably is related to last year’s incident.