Dallas Cowboys defensive end Charles Snowden has been suspended for the first three games of the 2026 NFL season due to a violation of the league's personal conduct policy stemming from a driving under the influence arrest in January 2024. The NFL's transactions wire confirmed the suspension.
Snowden will be eligible to return for the Cowboys' Week 4 game against the Houston Texans. He is permitted to participate in training camp and the team's preseason games.
He will miss regular season matchups against the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Baltimore Ravens. Snowden joined the Cowboys on June 18 after being waived by the Las Vegas Raiders on May 2. Last season with the Raiders, the 28-year-old played in 15 games, recording 1.5 sacks and 39 tackles, and his first career interception.
Prior to his time with the Raiders, Snowden spent four years at Virginia, where he accumulated 15 sacks and 191 tackles. He made his NFL debut with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and later spent time on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad in 2022.
The suspension impacts the Cowboys' pass rush unit, which has been noted as relatively thin. The team's defense was a factor in their inability to reach the playoffs last year, prompting Dallas to draft safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick in the recent NFL draft. The Cowboys' regular season opener is scheduled for September 13 at the Giants.