Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is now officially suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season after losing his appeal on Monday, the team announced.
According to ESPN.com, the suspension was due to marijuana use.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert called Bryant's actions a "disappointment" to the organization.
"We are disappointed in Martavis’ actions that has led to his four-game suspension," Colbert said in a statement. "It is a disappointment to our entire organization as well as our fans, but we will continue to support Martavis during his suspension. It is very unfortunate his actions have put our team in this situation to begin the year, but we are confident he will learn from his mistake and return in excellent shape in Week 5."
The suspension means Bryant will miss the Steelers first four games of the season.
Pittsburgh opens up at New England before hosting the 49ers in Week 2 and the Steelers offense could be hurting in both of those games.
The team is already expected to be without running back Le'Veon Bell and center Maurkice Pouncey. Bell is suspended for the first two weeks of the season and Pouncey is out indefinitely after undergoing ankle surgery last week.
The Steelers center was injured in a preseason win over the Packers on Aug. 23.
As for Bryant, the second-year receiver will also miss a Week 3 game at St. Louis and a Thursday night home game against the Ravens in Week 4.
The Steelers is eligible to play in Pittsburgh's final preseason games on Thursday and he's also allowed to practice with the team from now until the preseason's over.
The 2014 fourth-round pick had an explosive rookie year for the Steelers, chalking up 549 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on only 26 receptions. Bryant also had the longest catch of the 2014 season, a 94-yarder against the Bengals in Week 14.
