Peppers Receives Four-Game Suspension

Carolina Panther rookie defensive end Julius Peppers was suspended for four games by the NFL on Thursday for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, his agent said.

Agent Marvin Demoff said the league office told him that Peppers had tested positive for a banned substance in a dietary supplement. A source close to Peppers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Peppers did not test positive for steroids

Demoff said Peppers would appeal the suspension, meaning he can play in Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. In a statement released with one from his agent, Peppers said he couldn’t discuss the suspension until there’s a ruling on his appeal.

Peppers, 22, was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft and leads the NFL with 10 sacks.

If Peppers is suspended for all four games, he would lose $235,000 in salary. He signed a seven-year, $62-million contract in July, the richest deal in team history.

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Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver Chad Johnson is at it again.

The Bengals (1-8) play the Cleveland Browns (4-5) in Cincinnati on Sunday, and Johnson made another prediction.

“It has nothing to do with Cleveland at all,” Johnson said. “They just happen to be the team we’re playing. We’re going to win. I’m guaranteeing it.”

Two weeks ago, Johnson guaranteed Cincinnati would get its first win of the season against expansion Houston, a prediction first made by Bengal Coach Dick LeBeau. The Texans cooperated by playing their worst game, and the Bengals rolled to a 38-3 victory.

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Washington running back Stephen Davis, sidelined the last two games with a knee injury, is expected to return for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. He returned to practice Wednesday and showed no setbacks Thursday as he ran agility drills with a brace on his knee.

“Hopefully by Sunday, I’ll be running full, full, full, full, full speed,” said Davis, who had 528 yards in 123 carries before re-injuring the knee Oct. 27 against Indianapolis.

Still, Coach Steve Spurrier said he might split playing time between Davis and Kenny Watson.

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Marshall Faulk might practice today, raising the St. Louis Rams’ hopes that he’ll be able to play in Monday night’s game against Chicago. Faulk sprained his right ankle and strained a tendon in his left foot in Sunday’s 28-24 win over San Diego. Rookie Lamar Gordon will start if Faulk isn’t able to play.... The Chargers signed wide receiver Dondre Gilliam from the practice squad to the active roster Thursday to fill the spot created when returner Tamarick Vanover was cut. The Chargers also re-signed center Luke Butkus, the nephew of Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, to the practice squad.