The New York Giants announced Friday that linebacker Victor Butler, who signed a reserve/futures contract with the team in January, has been suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Butler was a long shot to make the roster to begin with, and a drug suspension isn't the kind of thing that helps that. But he will be permitted to participate in all offseason workouts, activities, practices and preseason games. So, assuming the Giants hold on to him through training camp, Butler would still have the opportunity to impress the coaches enough that they could delay a decision on his status until Week 5.

They had a similar situation last year with cornerback Jayron Hosley, who was on the roster bubble but was suspended for the first four games for substance abuse violations. By the time Hosley was ready to return, the Giants were dealing with so many injuries at cornerback that Hosley was welcomed back and given a chance to play.

Butler, 27, played four seasons for the Dallas Cowboys from 2009 to 2012, recording 11 sacks in a part-time pass-rusher role. He missed the 2013 season after tearing his ACL while in training camp with the Saints. He had brief stints in 2014 with the Cardinals and the Colts but played in only two games (both for Indianapolis) and recorded only one tackle.