The suspensions keep rolling in. On Thursday, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was the latest NFL player to be suspended for the first four games of the 2015 regular season. Gates was suspended because he violated the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances.

Both the Chargers and Gates released statements, both of which you can read below.

Here's the team's statement:

And here's Gates' statement:

Though Gates is 35 years old, he still managed to haul in 69 receptions and went for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. In his career, Gates has compiled 788 catches, over 10,000 receiving yards, and 99 touchdowns. 

Gates became the fourth player to be suspended by the league on Thursday. Earlier, Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain, and Packers defensive end Datone Jones were also suspended.

Here are three things to know about Gates' suspension.

1) Examining the four games that Gates will miss

Philip Rivers will be without the most reliable target he's had throughout his career for four games. Those four games will come against the Lions (home), Bengals (away), Vikings (away), and Browns (home). 

In the last two seasons, Gates hasn't missed a single game, so Rivers will be in unfamiliar territory against those four teams.

Obviously, it's a tough blow for the Chargers to be without Gates against the Lions, who featured one of the league's best defenses last year. The Bengals expect to be a playoff-caliber team again, while the Vikings are shaping up to be a playoff sleeper. As a whole, I'd say the Chargers' only easy game out of their first four is the one against the Browns.

It's a rough stretch to be without Gates. 

2) Who will fill in?

It'll be Ladarius Green's show in those four games. Green has often been touted as Gates' eventual successor in San Diego, but -- somehow and someway -- Gates has continued to produce at a relatively high level, which has delayed the process. 

Meanwhile, Green hasn't done much for the Chargers. In his career, he's only caught 40 passes and three touchdowns. Last season, Green was only used on roughly 20 percent of the Chargers' offensive snaps. 

The Chargers are going from one of the most reliable tight ends in the history of the league, to an unproven target that has disappointed thus far in his career. Who knows -- maybe Green will finally thrive in the four games and make it clear that he deserves a new contract with the team. Maybe Gates' suspension will finally open the door for Green. 

Unfortunately for the Chargers, there's a higher probability that Green fails to replicate Gates' production.

3) No excuses

It's worth mentioning that Gates didn't make any excuses for the suspension. For the most part, Gates only blamed himself for taking "supplements and holistic medicines" for recovery purposes.

"I understand that I am responsible for what is in my body and I have always believed that ignorance is no excuse when it comes to these issues," Gates said. "I take full responsibility for my actions."

Gates also acknowledged that it was his responsibility to make sure that what he was taking for recovery purposes did not violate any NFL policies. While Gates' willingness to take the blame shouldn't absolve him of his mistake, it does indicate how he'll handle his suspension.

As the Chargers alluded to in their statement, Gates will undoubtedly show up in tip-top shape when he's eligible to play against the Steelers on October 12. 

Gates will miss the first four games of the season. (USATSI)