In a season of unexpected twists and turns, the latest one for the Baltimore Ravens might be the most shocking one yet.
The NFL came down hard on Ravens offensive lineman Ben Cleveland on December 8, handing the 2021 third round pick a 3-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The suspension means Cleveland would be eligible to return for Baltimore’s Week 18 regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Baltimore — a game that could very well be for the NFC North Division title.
The Ravens announced the NFL’s decision on its official X account.
From the Ravens: “Announcement from the NFL: Ben Cleveland of the Baltimore Ravens is suspended for the club’s next three games without pay for violating the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy.”
Cleveland, 6-foot-6 and 355 pounds, has played in 64 games with 7 starts since 2021.
Played in One of Greatest CFB Games of All Time
Cleveland started in one of the greatest college football games of all time as a redshirt freshman at Georgia when his team played Alabama in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Atlanta.
Georgia led the showdown between SEC powerhouses 13-0 at halftime before Alabama switched quarterbacks for the second half, replacing future Super Bowl MVP and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback with current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa led a furious comeback to force overtime and connected with current Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith for a walk off, 41-yard touchdown pass. It was the first CFP National Championship Game to go to overtime and first national championship game to go to overtime since Ohio State defeated Miami in overtime.
Cleveland earned All-SEC and All-American honors in 2020 and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.01 seconds at the NFL scouting combine — blazing speed for someone his size.
The Ravens selected him in the third round (No. 94 overall) with one of the picks obtained in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for 4-time Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
Off-Field Issues Followed Cleveland Into 2025 Season
The NFL’s decision to suspend Cleveland isn’t his first setback in 2025 after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Baldwin County (Ga.) on February 12.
From NFL.com: “The report stated the arresting officer noticed the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle and that Cleveland’s eyes appeared to be glossy. After conducting a field sobriety test and registering a .178 blood alcohol content — more than double the legal limit — on a Breathalyzer, Cleveland was taken to a nearby jail. He was given two citations, one for DUI-alcohol and one for failure to maintain lane, and later released after being bonded out.”
According to The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han, Cleveland’s suspension was a direct result of the DUI arrest after he negotiated a plead deal on November 14 that sentenced him to 12 months probation.
“The NFL has suspended Ravens offensive lineman Ben Cleveland three games without pay after he was arrested in the offseason for driving under the influence,” Han wrote on December 8.
The suspension will cost Cleveland approximately $207,000 of his $1.173 million salary he was scheduled to make this season.
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