Why can’t we have nice things, Cowboys Nation? We’re good people, root for our team, and demonstrate a loyalty that rivals any across the National Football League. In spite of all of this, things just can’t go well in the area that we most need them to, and such is the case with the latest example being David Irving… who is facing a four-game suspension for a failed test.

Ian Rapoport on Twitter Cowboys pass-rusher David Irving is facing a 4-game PED suspension, sources say. Stems from a supplement that he had a marketing deal with.

This news coincides with the Dallas Cowboys beginning work for the first time as OTAs got going on Tuesday. What should be a day that is completely focused on the task at hand – Super Bowl LII – is now dampened by David Irving’s potential absence.

Should David Irving in fact be suspended it would mark the third year in a row that the Dallas Cowboys begin a season without one of their defensive linemen:

2015: Greg Hardy

2016: DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory

2017: David Irving

This, obviously, makes matters difficult when you’re trying to get to the opposing quarterback… something the Cowboys have struggled with for a great length of time now. While there are other options along the defensive line – hello, 2017 1st Rounder Taco Charlton – Irving’s potential absence could be a huge void for the first four games of the season, especially because of his versatility along the defensive line.

In case you forgot – you can see the whole schedule right here – the first four games of the season for the Dallas Cowboys feature three teams that have been in the Playoffs over the last two years:

Sunday, September 10th: New York Giants

Sunday, September 17th: At Denver Broncos

Monday, September 25th: At Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, October 1st: Los Angeles Rams

It is worth noting that all four of these teams seemingly have some level of question surrounding their starting quarterback, so perhaps it worked out best for the Cowboys that these were the four that they drew sans Irving (if he is suspended). This is never an ideal situation, but it could certainly be worse.

We’ll have you updated as the David Irving situation continues to unfold here at Inside The Star.