Sam Darnold will be without one of his top targets for the first four games of the season.

The NFL suspended tight end Chris Herndon four games without pay for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The suspension stems from an arrest in June 2018 after Herndon was involved in a two-car crash in Rockaway, NJ. Herndon pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in January.

Herndon, 23, can participate in training camp and preseason games. His suspension will begin after the final preseason game and he cannot return to the roster until Oct. 7, following the Jets’ game against the Eagles.

The Jets selected Herndon in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He immediately formed a connection with fellow rookie Darnold and the two showed a nice chemistry throughout last season. He finished the year with 39 catches for 502 yards and four touchdowns. The Jets are excited about his potential, but expected this suspension to come.

A first-time offender usually only gets two games unless the league determines there were aggravating circumstances. The NFL Network reported the extra two games were because a woman at the scene of the accident claimed bodily harm due to the crash.

Herndon’s blood-alcohol content at the time of the accident was 0.14%, according to the police. The police report stated Herndon crashed into and totaled a Toyota Land Cruiser, which was transporting a vintage automobile. The driver, who was 76 years old, suffered a bruised and gashed arm.

Herndon’s Nissan Armada flipped over and slid about 700 feet on Interstate 80. One eyewitness told police that Herndon was driving over 100 miles per hour.

The Jets currently have three other tight ends on their roster — Eric Tomlinson, Daniel Brown and rookie Trevon Wesco. Brown had an impressive spring and may become the starter. Tomlinson is known as a blocking tight end. Wesco, a fourth-round draft pick from West Virginia, is a wild card. The Jets also could add another tight end.

Players report to training camp on July 24 and the first practice is the following day.