Saints rookie QB Jake Haener suspended for PED violation. What do we know?
While it remains unclear as to how the substance came to be in his body, what is clear is that the Saints rookie QB won’t be available due to suspension.
Following a single season at the University of Washington, the rookie signal caller spent three years with Fresno State, during which time he threw for 4,096 yards and 33 touchdowns in his junior year with the Bulldogs.
NFL suspends Saints’ Jake Haener
According to reports, the New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback, Jake Haener, has been suspended for the first six weeks of the 2023-24 NFL regular season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Haener was of course selected by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft after a campaign in which he grabbed first-team All-Mountain West honors. The 24-year-old was the sixth of 14 quarterbacks selected, and the first to be selected on Day 3. Interestingly, Haener is actually the fourth quarterback on the Saints’ 53-man roster behind Derek Carr, Jameis Winston, and Taysom Hill. In the three preseason games that he played, Haener completed 52.8 percent of his passes for 395 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
What has Jake Haener said about his suspension?
In a statement that he released after learning that he had been suspended, Haener indicated that he had no idea as to how the situation occurred. You can it below:
“I recently learned that I tested positive for a substance banned by the NFL earlier this summer. I still do not know how the substance got into my body, as none of my supplements or prescribed medications contain the banned ingredient. I would never knowingly cheat the game that I love, however, I must take full responsibility for the failed test. I apologize to the Saints organization, my friends and my family for any distraction this suspension may cause. I am disappointed to be away from the team for the coming weeks, but I will learn and grow from this experience. I look forward to returning to the team as soon as possible.”