Cowboys DE Charles Snowden suspended for first three games

The Dallas defense just lost one of its newest pieces before training camp even opens.

Charles Snowden, who inked his deal with the Cowboys on the final day of mandatory minicamp last month, won’t take the field for Dallas’ first three games of the 2026 season.

The league’s transaction wire confirmed the news Tuesday, and it’s not the kind of headline the Cowboys wanted heading into camp.

The NFL didn’t hold back on the details.

“Dallas’ Charles Snowden, DE, Virginia, has been suspended by the Commissioner for the first three games of the 2026 season,” the league wrote. “He is eligible to participate in all preseason activities, including games; his suspension will take effect as of the roster reduction to 53 players.”

That last part matters for Cowboys fans hoping to see Snowden in August. He’s still allowed to suit up for every preseason game.

The clock on his ban only starts once Dallas trims its roster down to 53 players ahead of the regular season.

Why Snowden is sitting out

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the suspension traces back to a DUI arrest in Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 2024, back when Snowden was still with the Raiders.

The league classified it as a violation of its personal conduct policy, and the punishment took roughly a year and a half of review before landing on three missed games.

Snowden signed a one-year deal worth $1.075 million with Dallas in June, giving the Cowboys a low-cost depth option at defensive end under coordinator Christian Parker. He’ll just have to wait a bit longer to make his mark.

His path to Dallas wasn’t a straight line.

Chicago signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2021, and he played two games as a rookie before getting waived and picked up by Tampa Bay.

He landed in Las Vegas the following year and finally found his footing.

Over two seasons with the Raiders, Snowden appeared in 31 games with 18 starts.

He racked up 4.5 sacks, 67 tackles including eight for a loss, an interception, six passes defended and 11 quarterback hits across 730 defensive snaps and 231 special teams snaps.

What the suspension means for Dallas’ schedule

If Snowden makes the 53-man roster, he’ll sit out road trips against the Giants in Week 1, the Commanders in Week 2 and the Ravens in Week 3.

He’ll be eligible to return for Week 4 against the Texans.

He’s one of several new faces on Dallas’ revamped defense, joining safety PJ Locke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia, safety Jalen Thompson, defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard and cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick.

The Cowboys open training camp in Oxnard on July 29.

Key takeaways

• Charles Snowden will miss Dallas’ first three games of 2026 due to a personal conduct policy violation.
• The suspension stems from a DUI arrest in Las Vegas from December 2024, during his time with the Raiders.
• Snowden can still play in every preseason game and returns to eligibility for Week 4 against the Texans.