National Football League

Bears DT Collins suspended 1 game

Published Jul. 19, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The NFL says Chicago Bears defensive tackle Nate Collins has been suspended without pay for the upcoming season opener for violating its substance abuse program.

The punishment was announced Thursday. The league did not say what the violation was.

Collins was also fined an additional game check but will be able to return to the active roster on Sept. 10, a day after the opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

He is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games.

The Bears signed Collins to a one-year deal in May. He played in 13 games over the past two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Collins entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia with the New York Giants in 2010.