AP

After coming back from a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, Panthers defensive end Frank Alexander said he had given up his marijuana habit.

Either he didn’t, or found a replacement, as the league announced he was suspended for at least a year for his third violation of the league’s drug program.

Alexander’s currently on injured reserve with a torn Achilles. But the Panthers had hung with him through four- and 10-game suspensions, but may not now.

Alexander said in May he used marijuana as pain management and to relax, but that he’d stop.

“I didn’t do it before I went to work. I didn’t do it at work. It was simply like after I got out of practice, I wanted to kind of relax and chill. It kind of healed my body up,” Alexander said. “It wasn’t like a thing I was doing all the time. I didn’t need it to get up and go.”

He’s the third Panthers player to be suspended this week, following defensive end Wes Horton and injured wide receiver Stephen Hill yesterday.