New England Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Branch tested positive for marijuana and will appeal the four-game suspension.
The suspension will not start until after the appeal is heard, so Branch is expected to play Sunday against the New York Jets.
He has started nine of the Patriots' 10 games this season and has one sack and 33 tackles. Last season he appeared in 16 games, starting 15, and finished with one sack and 35 tackles.
Branch, 31, was suspended by the Patriots for a few days in August for violating team rules.
Branch joined the Patriots in the middle of the 2014 season. He had been released by the Bills in August 2014, when he was entering the second season of a three-year, $8.5 million deal ($3.1 million signing bonus) but made headlines with a DUI arrest.
