Former Ohio State offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere will be reinstated two weeks ahead of schedule on Monday after receiving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy as a member of the Tennessee Titans.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, who played in 22 games and scored three touchdowns for Ohio State before transferring to Alabama, will also be reinstated alongside Petit-Frere without serving the full six-game suspension.
Petit-Frere was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft after playing 20 games in three seasons as a Buckeye. The standout offensive lineman turned down offers from college football powerhouses like Alabama and Florida to join Ohio State in 2018, but redshirted his true freshman season.
The 6-foot-5 inch, 316 pound lineman was a steady presence on the Titans offensive line in his rookie season. He played 16 games and appeared in 97% of the team’s offensive snaps, allowing five sacks and committing eight penalties. Petit-Frere joined Michael Roos (2005), Chance Warmack (2013) and Jack Conklin (2016) as the only offensive linemen in the franchise’s “Titans era” (1999–present) to start at least 16 games as a rookie.
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Why was Nicholas Petit-Frere suspended?
Petit-Frere was suspended in the summer for violating the NFL rule that prohibits players from betting on any sport from inside a team facility. The NFL announced Petit-Frere’s suspension, as well as three other players, on June 29.
After the suspension was announced, the Titans lineman released a statement apologizing for his actions.
“The betting I engaged in was NOT NFL related and was legal under Tennessee law,” Petit-Frere said. “It is only being sanctioned because it occurred at the Titans facility. I want to apologize to my family, coaches, teammates and Titans fans.”
Why did NFL change Nicholas Petit-Frere suspension?
The NFL reinstated Petit-Frere two weeks ahead of schedule due to changes in the NFL’s gambling policy. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all NFL teams on Friday explaining the decision to revise the policy.
What is the NFL’s new gambling policy?
Per the new policy, first-time offenders like Petit-Frere who bet on leagues other than the NFL at the club facility will garner a two-game suspension. Second-time offenders, however, will get Petit-Frere’s initial suspension of six games.
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The new rules will punish NFL betting more harshly, however, with players who bet on their own teams receiving at least two-year suspensions and players betting on the NFL in general receiving at least one year.
When can Nicholas Petit-Frere play for Tennessee Titans?
Petit-Frere will be eligible to return from his suspension two weeks earlier than anticipated. His official return will come Monday, making him available for the Titans’ AFC South game against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 8.
Williams also will be reinstated Monday, for the Detroit Lions.
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He will provide much-needed reinforcements on the offensive line after the team allowed five sacks in their most recent loss to the Cleveland Browns. Left tackle Andre Dillard has struggled in place of Petit-Frere, so the midseason policy change comes at an optimal time for the Titans.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL reinstates Ohio State football players after gambling suspensions