Sheldon Richardson has been suspended by the NFL for four games for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy.

Richardson will be eligible to return to the New York Jets on Monday, Oct. 5, after the Jets' Week 4 game against the Miami Dolphins.

"I apologize for letting down my family, teammates, this organization and the fans. However, words aren't enough. This is something that can only be addressed by how I handle myself from this point on," Richardson said in a statement.

"I don't want this to take away from what the team is trying to accomplish. While I won't be there at the start of the regular season, I will do whatever I can to support my teammates until I'm able to return to the field."