Ravens safety Christian Thompson has been suspended for the first four games of 2013 for violating the NFL substance abuse policy, the league announced Monday afternoon.
He will be suspended without pay. Thompson is still eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.
"We have been aware of this situation for some time," General Manager Ozzie Newsome said.
A fourth-round pick last year, Thompson was active for seven games and exclusively saw special teams action. He did not record a tackle. Thompson, 22, was beat out for a defensive safety spot by veterans James Ihedigbo and Sean Considine.
Thompson, a South Carolina State product, was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on Nov. 17.
The Ravens were already thin at safety after Ed Reed departed for Houston and they cut strong safety Bernard Pollard. Baltimore signed veteran Michael Huff last week, however.
